Description

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In Clay Lab for Kids, art teacher and winner of the Netflix bake-off show Nailed It! Cassie Stephens presents 52 hands-on projects made with kid-friendly clays that get kids working creatively and thinking three-dimensionally.

Squishy, colorful, and infinitely shapable, clay just might be the most versatile art material for kids. Author-artist-teacher Cassie Stephens has created all-new clay projects for kids of all skill levels. Start with the basics of rolling, coiling, and pinching pots, and move up to making "Jurassic fossils," animal marionettes, monster magnets, and boxes with secret compartments.

All of the projects use kid-friendly, no-kiln clay (air-dry, homemade, and polymer) and water-based paints, perfect for home and classroom, plus there's an entire chapter of recipes for mixing up inexpensive homemade clays in the kitchen.

When creating with clay, kids are introduced to a wide range of cognitive and manual skills: they'll work three-dimensionally; make figurative models; use their imaginations in making jewelry and toys; design with color; and decorate with paints.

The popular Lab for Kids series features a growing list of books that share hands-on activities and projects on a wide host of topics, including art, astronomy, bugs, geology, math, and even how to create your own circus—all authored by established experts in their fields. Each lab contains a complete materials list, clear step-by-step photographs of the process, as well as finished samples. The labs can be used as singular projects or as part of a yearlong curriculum of experiential learning. The activities are open-ended, designed to be explored over and over, often with different results. Geared toward being taught or guided by adults, they are enriching for a range of ages and skill levels. Gain firsthand knowledge on your favorite topic with Lab for Kids.

About the Author

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Cassie Stephens lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and teaches art at Franklin Special School District. Cassie—who was the winner of the Netflix bake-off show Nailed It! in Season 3—posts about the fun, creative projects she does with her students at "In the Art Room" on cassiestephens.blogspot.com. She is the author of Clay Lab for Kids and Stitch and String Lab for Kids.

Praise For…

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“Clay is a mainstay of art media for kids, and here an art teacher provides projects and techniques for a variety of clays. Air-dry clays, polymer clay, and homemade clays are all featured here, along with paints and sealers…Recipes for make-it-yourself clays include salt dough, clay dough, Silly Putty, and candy clay and are designed to be simple enough for kid participation. Throughout, Stephens encourages kid sculptors to be creative and to keep in mind the science behind the art.” – Anne Heidemann, Booklist Online

"Ideal for families looking for artistic activities, as well as teachers and caregivers interested in introducing clay to children ages five and up.” – Heather Halliday for Library Journal