Nature + Animals
Grade(s): Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, 1, 2, and 3
Location: Visual Art Studios at St. Albert Place (Art Gallery of St. Albert)
Duration: 1.5 Hours
Volunteers: 4–6 recommended
* To schedule a field trip, you'll need to have a teacher account and log in. If you don't have an account yet, you can easily register for one here.
*Note: All in school and virtual clay programs use air dry clay which is much less durable than clay that is bisque fired at our visual art studios. We cannot transport clay from in-school programs to the visual art studios for firing, but if your school has a kiln and a technician, we can supply suitable clay for firing at your school.
Click here for information on in school techniques for finishing air dry clay.
Learn More About Our Nature + Animal Programs!
Program descriptions and curriculum links:Using a variety of hand-building techniques, students create a clay plaque depicting life under the ocean’s waves. Seas and oceans have such an abundance of amazing plants and animals to discover. What kinds of creatures can you think of? Dolphins and turtles and fish, oh my!
In this clay class, students examine different nests before crafting their own version of a nest, complete with eggs and a little bird.
Curriculum
- Art
- Science Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- (1–Art) Explore form and function and develop decorative styles
- (1–Science) Seasonal Changes on plants and animals
- (2–Science) Examine selection of materials based on suitability, availability, and sustainability
- (2–Science) Growth and development of plants and animals and relationship to humans
In this clay class, students examine photos of frogs and toads and then discuss their differences and similarities. Students are then shown step by step, how to make a lily pad or smooth rock for their chosen amphibian to sit upon.
Curriculum
- Art
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Science
- (K-Art) Respond to, explore and develop confidence through art
- (1-Science) Seasonal Changes on plants and animals
- (1-Art) Explore form and function and develop decorative styles (
- 2-Science) Growth and development of plants and animals and relationship to humans
- (2-Art) Communicate with visual symbols using a variety of media and techniques
Not only are they beautiful to look at, butterflies play an important role in the pollination of flowering plants and are great indicators of climate change and habitat destruction. Students examine photographs of a variety of Alberta butterfly species before being led step by step through the process of how to build a symmetrical clay butterfly using hand shaped slabs and coils.
Curriculum
- Art
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Science
- (K–Art) Respond to, explore and develop confidence through art
- (1–Science) Seasonal Changes on plants and animals
- (1–Art) Explore form and function and develop decorative styles
- (2–Science) Growth and development of plants and animals and relationship to humans
- (2–Art) Communicate with visual symbols using a variety of media and techniques
Students will examine images of ladybugs and learn the stages of metamorphosis from egg to larva then pupa and adult. Step by step, students are shown how to turn a clay slab into a leaf before rolling clay balls that make up a head, thorax, abdomen and protective ladybug shell.
Curriculum
- Art
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Science
- (K–Art) Respond to, explore and develop confidence through art
- (1–Science) Seasonal Changes on plants and animals
- (1–Art) Explore form and function and develop decorative styles
- (2–Science) Growth and development of plants and animals and relationship to humans
- (2–Art) Communicate with visual symbols using a variety of media and techniques
