CLAY Cats on Mats Sculpture Art Project Tutorial for Ceramics Lesson 1st-3rd
This clay art lesson for creating a Cat on an Mat is inspired by language acquisition programmes in early elementary and also connects beautifully with several picture books about cats. Students use Pottery clay for this ceramics art project. This CLAY hand-building art lesson easily differentiates for the varied creative expressions in your class by opening the finishing options to include student ideas, inspired by the photographs in the resource. The project starts with the same basic structure, and incorporates opportunities for differentiation. You get a comprehensive step-by-step pacing guide designed for 5-8 yr olds.
Suits K to 3rd grade teachers looking for an art lesson that is not craft. With strong connections to concepts on Animals, Pets and responsibility, this art project will easily engage your students. Makes authentic links to the Elements of Art, Art Theory and Literature.
To extend this Cats on Mats theme - view my other two lesson guides in this series:
- CATS on Mats - Mixed Media Collage Art project lesson plan, or
- Cats on Mats - Early Finishers/ Sub guide, available in my TPT store HERE
If you love this project but don't have a kiln, try the Model Magic version instead:
Cats on Mats - Model Magic option (coming soon)
Students who are absent for my clay building lesson, still get to make the Model Magic version, while the rest of the class decorate their clay.
This is a new product so please enjoy the following review for another clay art project guide below
DRAGON EYES CLAY sculpture art project for ceramics lesson 4th grade - Middle
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ "All my students (plus me) had a blast with this lesson of texture! Super engaging! Loved to see all of their amazing creations! Excited to use this lesson again!"
CATS ON MATS is an impactful Art lesson plan for ceramics that also helps to consolidate your student's understanding of Visual Art and the medium of pottery. This easy to use art lesson has a strong focus on the Elements of Art, like Shape, Form and Texture, a great way to build essential knowledge and skill in this subject - particularly for students and teachers with limited knowledge or experience with this medium.
The lesson also includes bonus information about cats on mats, pottery slab and building techniques and then guides you through the art lesson that has been tested and crafted to suit this age group - step by step.
This product is a non-editable PDF presentation. It includes slides for:
- Slab & forms - building with Clay
- Literature connections
- Materials list
- Reference images
- Detailed building guide
- Detailed decorating and glazing guide (2 options)
- Step by step instructions and sequence photos of the process
- Self assessment and reflection sheets
- Assessment guidance
This PDF has been designed in landscape format so that it is easily shared on a large screen with your students. Created for students aged 5+, this lesson plan is aimed at Kindergarten - 3rd grade .
❤️ Take the guesswork out of teaching art,
❤️ Avoid endless hours of research,
❤️ No more epic fails that result from not having the time to trial the lesson or medium yourself before teaching them
❤️ Learn tips and tricks for building with clay
I’ve done it all for you and tested this lesson with Kindergarten and elementary grades. You can view posts about my lessons in my instagram and Pinterest feeds - links below.
❤️ Why should you trust my lessons?
I am a full-time Visual Art and Digital Media specialist educator, with many years of general classroom experience teaching students aged 4-12, at a primary school. I do this every day, just like you! My experience and knowledge are up to date with current practise and I love sharing my project learnings to help you on your teaching journey.
❤️ How will this resource help busy classroom teachers, who are nervous about teaching art?
No worries - I’ve got you covered.
This lesson comes as a full colour PDF teacher guide, with a 65+ slide deck, to share on your large screen with your students.
All project steps are clearly explained and photographed, from start to finish, giving you the confidence to deliver quality visual art lessons for multi-day projects, to your students. Why exhaust yourself teaching 1 day lessons. Save those for your early finishers or end of term and make the shift to comprehensive, quality learning practise.
Use in a series of lessons, while encouraging students to follow choice options along the way and create their unique artwork, and be guided through their learning by the information in the PDF slideshow.
❤️ All the materials & skills are also clearly listed for you. It’s like having an art specialist with you in your classroom.
The PDF slides are intentionally designed in landscape orientation, to share with your students. This extra visual support will prove useful, particularly for our young or less experienced learners, and will also save you from having to repeat the same instructions, over and over again.
Select VIEW > enter full screen for presentation mode. Then use the arrow keys on your keyboard to drive a smooth slideshow experience, like a pro :)
No printing required
⏰ How long will this project take to finish?
These lessons and art project can be completed in 4-5 lessons, depending on the age and skill of students.
1x single lesson for making the mat
1x single lesson for building the cat (+2 week drying time, fire)
2x single lessons for glazing or painting
1x single lesson for threading and tying the wool tassels
(* for average lesson times of 40min)
Building and decorating time will reduce with older, more experienced students.
For more CLAY art projects, please explore the following category on my website:
View the previews above, then add to cart and smile, knowing you will soon have beautiful artwork to display and students glowing with pride!
❤️ So what is special about this resource?
CLAY CATS ON MATS is NOT a superficial art or craft option. As a specialist in this field, I write lessons that encourage deeper, cross-curricular learning and make meaningful connections to other subject areas. This IS:
- a hand-building tutorial that uses measurement, shapes and 3D form (Math)
- explores language concepts for 'at'
- connects to themes for animals, pets and literature
- teaches about the elements of art
- makes cross-curricular links to Sharing The Planet
This lesson plan can be the perfect companion art project for students inquiring into
✏️ The Theory of Visual Art
✏️ Art media
✏️ Our responsibility for animals
✏️ Art inspired by stories
Students can express their unique ideas through personal choices and modifications (suggestions offered in the guide), while working through the guided project. Pause the presentation in places to discuss next steps with students, check understanding and explore potential student responses or modifications, bringing personal creative ideas to the tutorial. This addresses the Viewing & Responding to artwork objectives in a purposeful way.
Recommended Pairing:
Extend the Pet theme by making these Collage Cats on Mats, or
move onto dogs with this Shaggy Dog Collage
What other teachers have said about this art lesson guide:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Absolutely adorable! This resource was simple and easy to use but created awesome art! I used this for a summer camp with kids K-6th, and adapted as needed but all the dogs (and a few bison and llamas) came out well with the kids proud of their work.'
✅ What knowledge, techniques and skills will my students learn from this art tutorial?
- Gain knowledge about art media
- Gain knowledge about art elements
- Learn to compose sculpture with shapes & forms
- Include real texture
- Follow a tutorial for guidance - listening skills, visual discrimination, sequencing
- Develop fine-motor & technical skills for using a range of art tools
- Respond to art created by artists and by other students
- Reflect on own knowledge, skills, progress and artwork - using the included student sheets
✅ That sounds great! So what about the Visual Art focus in this lesson?
- Introduced to and explore the medium of potters clay
- Introduced to and explore the tools and techniques of hand-building clay sculpture
- Explore the influence of animals and pets on art
- Observe & understand the Art World (Studio Habits)
- Build observational skills & guided response
- Explore art making that expresses new learning
- Stretch & Explore (Studio Habits)
- PLAN - compose sculpture with shapes and forms
- Develop Craft, Engage & Persist, Express (Studio Habits)
- Make connections between self & art to understand the art community (Studio Habits)
- Reflect on personal development as an artist (Studio Habits)
View the Previews above, then add to cart and smile, knowing you have just saved yourself heaps of time and effort!
✅ Is this product available on TPT?
Yes - you can find this product in my TPT store - One Teacher's Journey - HERE
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✅ Where can I find more art lessons like this one?
→ You can browse all my art lessons and support resources provided as PDF presentation lesson HERE: VISUAL ART STORE
→ If you would prefer the added support of guided video tutorials, browse my growing collection in this custom category HERE: ART LESSONS WITH VIDEO TUTORIALS
→ For more early elementary Art lessons, click HERE: Art Lesson Plans K-2
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View all the previews above before you buy. If you have any questions, contact me through Q & A, BEFORE you purchase.
⭐️Would you recommend this lesson to your colleagues? Then please return to rate & comment as this helps to inform other teachers about how this product brought value to your teaching.
Every care is taken with editing this resource and at times, errors can still sneak through. If you have any questions, contact me through Q & A, and be specific in your request so that I can make those improvements and give you, and others the best quality lesson plans.
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➡️ TERMS OF USE
Review the TOUs in the PDF preview prior to purchasing.
Created by Timea Willemse, © One Teacher's Journey, © Help Me Learn
