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Lesson one - pages 2/3
Moulding clay
Aim for the book
To give children the opportunity to explore what Christians believe
about the nature of both God and humans, by studying hands.
Learning objectives
- To know that Christians believe that God is responsible
for creating and maintaining the world.
- To be able to use their hands to explore clay and make
something, and then reflect on their efforts.
- To understand that the Bible says that God was pleased
with creation.
Bible references
Genesis 1.31
Isaiah 64.8
Background
Christians believe that God is responsible for creation
and the continuing acts of creativity in the world. The Genesis
stories reveal God as creator and being pleased with the world that
is made: 'And God saw that it was good' (Genesis 1). There are several
creation stories in the Bible, the most familiar being the two accounts,
one in Genesis 1 and another in Genesis 2.
Key words
- Feel
- Explore
- Create
- Creator
- Creation
- Creativity
- Change/improve/adapt
- Feelings
- Responses
Activity one - quiet making
- You will need
Fresh clay (or playdough if not available) - enough for each
child and adult to have a piece to hold in their hand.
Candles - variety of sizes.
Any supporting adults prepared to follow your lead.
- Start
Look at the picture in the book. Discuss.
What can you see?
What is happening?
What do we know from looking at the picture?
- Develop
Sit quietly in a circle with a table in the centre. (This is
best done as a whole class, but could be one group at a time.)
Give each child and adult (including the teacher) a piece of
fresh clay.
Teacher - start to work your clay in your hand.
Other adults follow.
Children should start to follow. If they do not, ask them to.
Do not ask the children to make specific objects.
As interest wanes, ask the children to put their
clay on the table one at a time.
Arrange the candles on the table and light them. (For health and safety
reasons, the children remain seated.)
Ask children to look at the results of their efforts.
Sit quietly for a short time.
- End
Tell the children that they are all creators, and congratulate
them.
In discussion, notice similarities and differences now in the
pieces of clay.
How did that happen? (Hands created.)
Christians believe that God is the Creator of the world
Keep the objects to form a display.
Activity two - creative hands
- You will need
A selection of materials for children to create with,
such as: clay, paint, playdough, Lego or mall construction apparatus.
Writing or drawing equipment, paper, sewing material, recycled resources and so on.
Table or display area to arrange finished work on.
A label: 'We used our hands to create; we are creators.'
Optional background music, to create a calm atmosphere.
- Start
Look at pictures and recap the first lesson if appropriate.
- Develop
Ask the children to look at their own hands, then at your friend's
hands. How are they the same? How are they different?
What can we do with our hands?
Today we are going to use our hands to make something by ourselves
Children choose one area of creative activity that appeals to
them and make one object.
Play background music. Give support to and encourage the children
without directing their work.
- End
As a whole class, share some of the finished items.
Who is pleased with their work?
Who is not pleased? Why?
How do you feel when you have made something: cross, happy,
tired, sad, pleased, disappointed? Can you say why?
The Bible story says that when God was pleased with the created
world; it was good.
You have created something new today.
Celebrate the creation by carefully placing your object on a
display table for everyone to enjoy. Place prepared labels on
table.
- Assessment opportunities
Did children identify their own feelings?
Did they understand that their creation was unique?
Activity three - what about the
world?
- You will need
Display from activities one and two, or examples of the children's
work.
A large piece of paper or whiteboard.
Pieces of paper large enough for each child to draw around their
hands on.
Pens or crayons.
Scissors.
Large card hand shapes.
- Start
Look at the display or at the children's work.
Remind the children that their own hands have made all these
things.
Brainstorm words about what their hands have done. For example: cut,
paint, write, mould, push, pull, feel, stroke or touch.
Look at your hands, draw round them and cut them out.
Write words from the brainstorm on them: 'Hands can...'
- Develop
Look at the picture in the book and recap activities one and two.
Read the recommended bible verses.
How do you feel when you have made something?
According to the Bible, how do you think God felt about the created
world?
If you were making your object again, would you want to change
anything? Why and how?
- End
Why do you think Christians believe God is still creating in
the world?
How might God be doing it?
Can children recall any elements of Christian stories of creation?
Do they know that these stories are found in the Bible?
Can they identify aspects of their own feelings and experiences?
Can they respond to the feelings of others?
Do they realise some questions are hard to answer?
Activity checklist
Activity one - quiet making
Fresh clay (or playdough if not available) - enough for each child
and adult to have a piece to hold in their hand.
Candles - variety of sizes.
Any supporting adults prepared to follow your lead.
Activity two - creative hands
A selection of materials for children to create with, such
as: clay, paint, playdough, Lego or small construction apparatus.
Writing or drawing equipment.
Paper, sewing material, recycled resources and so on.
Table or display area to arrange finished work on.
A label: 'We used our hands to create; we are creators.'
Optional background music, to create a calm atmosphere.
Activity three - what about the world?
Display from activities one and two, or examples of the children's
work.
A large piece of paper or whiteboard.
Pieces of paper large enough for each child to draw around their
hands on.
Pens or crayons.
Scissors.
Large card hand shapes.
Web site links
For further information, look at the links
section of this site.
http://www.handsoncrafts.org/index.htm
http://www.geocities.com/kraftproject/craftathome.html
© Janet Parkinson
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