This Art and design scheme of work video introduces pupils to essential clay skills they’ll use throughout the unit, including shaping, flattening and mark making.

The activity doesn’t require any specialist tools. Tables should be protected, and each child will need a modelling board. Useful tools include rolling pins, modelling sticks, loop tools or everyday items like wooden blocks, Lego, buttons, string and kitchen utensils.

The video demonstrates how to flatten clay evenly and remove marks. Next, pupils will learn how to roll a sausage shape by moving clay between their palms, and how to roll a ball by rotating one hand over the other. These skills are foundational and familiar to children who’ve worked with dough or clay before. Finally, the children explore mark making using different tools and objects, learning how varying pressure creates different effects. Once they’ve had time to experiment, pupils use what they’ve learned to create their own clay model.

This video is part of Kapow Primary’s Year 2 Clay houses unit.

See more of our Year 2 Art and design scheme of work.

Art and design, Year 2, Sculpture and 3D: Clay houses, Lesson 1: Exploring clay.