Activity 01
Pairs: Emotion Figures
Pairs select an emotion like joy or surprise, then collaboratively shape a 10cm clay figure using pinching and coiling techniques. They add details for pose and face, then swap with another pair to guess the emotion. Display and discuss matches.
Construct a clay figure that clearly communicates an action or emotion.
Facilitation TipDuring Emotion Figures, demonstrate how to exaggerate a joint bend or head tilt before students begin their own figures.
What to look forAsk students to hold up their partially completed figures. Ask: 'What emotion is your figure showing? How does its pose help communicate that?' Observe student responses for understanding of pose and emotion connection.
ApplyAnalyzeEvaluateSocial AwarenessSelf-Awareness
Generate Complete Lesson→· · ·
Activity 02
Small Groups: Wordless Scenes
In small groups, students brainstorm a three-figure story sequence, such as a chase or celebration. Each member builds one figure, then they join pieces into a scene on a base. Groups present silently for class guesses.
Analyze how the pose and expression of a clay figure contribute to its narrative.
Facilitation TipFor Wordless Scenes, circulate and ask groups to point out one visual choice they made to show time passing or mood change.
What to look forStudents display their finished clay scenes. Provide a simple checklist: 'Does the scene have a clear beginning, middle, or end? Can you guess the story? What is one thing that makes the story clear?' Students use the checklist to provide feedback to one classmate.
ApplyAnalyzeEvaluateSocial AwarenessSelf-Awareness
Generate Complete Lesson→· · ·
Activity 03
Whole Class: Sculpture Gallery Walk
Students place finished figures on tables for a gallery walk. Provide sticky notes for observers to write interpretations of actions or stories. Conclude with whole-class share-out of most effective examples.
Design a small clay scene that tells a story without words.
Facilitation TipSet a five-minute timer before the Sculpture Gallery Walk so students prepare concise comments about another’s work.
What to look forStudents draw a quick sketch of their clay figure and label one element (e.g., hand position, head tilt) that helps tell its story. They write one sentence explaining how that element contributes to the narrative.
ApplyAnalyzeEvaluateSocial AwarenessSelf-Awareness
Generate Complete Lesson→· · ·
Activity 04
Individual: Personal Story Figure
Each student creates a single figure representing a memory or idea, focusing on gesture. They write a one-sentence story prompt, then self-assess pose clarity before optional sharing.
Construct a clay figure that clearly communicates an action or emotion.
Facilitation TipFor Personal Story Figure, provide a quiet corner with mirrors so students can study their own facial expressions in the clay.
What to look forAsk students to hold up their partially completed figures. Ask: 'What emotion is your figure showing? How does its pose help communicate that?' Observe student responses for understanding of pose and emotion connection.
ApplyAnalyzeEvaluateSocial AwarenessSelf-Awareness
Generate Complete Lesson→A few notes on teaching this unit
Teachers should model how simple changes in clay form shift the mood, such as a slumped back versus an upright stance. Avoid overcorrecting for realism; instead, highlight how abstracted features often communicate better. Research shows that students learn figurative sculpture faster when they see quick teacher demonstrations of key techniques like slab building for bases and pinch pots for heads.
Successful learning shows when students use pose, expression, and grouping to tell a clear story without words. They should explain their choices with simple terms like 'This arm across the chest looks angry.' Observing peers interpret their work without explanation proves the narrative is clear.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
During Emotion Figures, watch for students aiming for perfect realism.
Pause their work and ask them to exaggerate one feature at a time, like eyes wide or shoulders hunched, to see which change best shows the emotion. Provide a printed sheet of simple emotion silhouettes as a reference.
During Wordless Scenes, watch for students adding text or titles to explain the story.
Remind them to rely only on visuals and ask peers to guess the story first. Provide a checklist with visual cues like 'beginning, middle, end' to guide their arrangement without words.
During Emotion Figures, watch for students who think clay is only for slabs or pots.
Show a sample upright figure and demonstrate scoring and slipping on a small pinch pot base, then build a simple torso on top. Place exploration stations with partially completed figures so students can feel the stability of well-connected parts.
Methods used in this brief