Building Clay Walls

Overview

This is lesson 3 of 6 in Clay Homes Through Time. Students use their approved plan to build the main walls and a simple box-shaped clay structure, applying practical techniques for joining, smoothing, strengthening and maintaining proportion. The lesson develops ideas from the previous planning and design work and prepares the structure for later detail and surface treatment.

Learning intentions

• We are learning to construct clay walls from an approved plan.
• We are learning to join, smooth and strengthen clay so our structure holds together.
• We are learning to maintain consistent proportions while building.
• We are learning to make careful artistic decisions and respond to feedback.

Success criteria

• I can build walls that match the main proportions of my approved plan.
• I can score, moisten and press clay pieces together to make secure joins.
• I can smooth cracks without losing the shape or character of my structure.
• I can explain one choice I made and one improvement I will make next.

Curriculum links

• Visual Arts — developing and communicating ideas through practical making.
• Visual Arts — exploring and using art-making processes, materials, tools and techniques.
• Visual Arts — responding to and interpreting artworks and the choices made by artists.
• Key competencies — managing self, thinking, and participating and contributing.

Lesson structure (45 minutes)

1. 0–5 min · Reconnect and focus. Teacher displays the approved plan and introduces the goal: “Today we will turn our plan into strong clay walls.” Open the opening and technique slides to show a striking comparison between a stable clay wall and a cracked or leaning wall; students identify what might make one structure stronger than the other and review safe, respectful handling of clay.

2. 5–12 min · Teacher demonstration. Teacher demonstrates making evenly sized clay portions, forming a simple wall, scoring both surfaces, adding a small amount of slip or water, pressing the pieces together, blending the join and smoothing cracks; the teacher also models checking height, width and corners against the plan. Students watch, rehearse the words “score, slip, press, blend” with a partner, and ask questions before collecting materials.

3. 12–15 min · Plan and prepare. Teacher directs students to study their approved plan and use the clay wall planning and checking sheet to record the wall height, approximate width and one strengthening technique they will use. Students collect clay and tools, place their plan beside their workspace, and decide the order in which they will build the walls.

4. 15–33 min · Build the main walls. Teacher circulates, gives brief individual feedback and prompts students to compare their work with the plan: “Is this wall the right height?” and “Where does the weight need more support?” Students build the box-shaped structure, join corners securely, smooth the inside and outside surfaces, reinforce weak areas and check that the walls remain upright and proportionate.

5. 33–38 min · Midpoint gallery check. Teacher pauses the class and asks students to leave structures in place; students move carefully in pairs to view two nearby structures, using the peer-check slides and the prompts “What looks strong?” and “Where could the maker improve the join or proportion?” Students give specific, kind feedback and return to their own work to make one targeted improvement.

6. 38–43 min · Finish and prepare to dry. Teacher demonstrates how to tidy loose scraps, support a leaning wall without pressing it out of shape, and place the finished structure on a labelled drying board. Students complete their final smoothing and proportion check, add their name and group to the label, and set the piece aside safely to dry.

7. 43–45 min · Reflect and preview. Teacher leads a quick share using the reflection and next-steps slide. Students complete the final boxes on the clay wall planning and checking sheet: one successful technique, one challenge and one detail they would like to add in the next lesson.

Resources

• Modelling clay, prepared in manageable portions
• Clay boards or non-porous work mats
• Water or slip in small containers
• Wooden modelling tools and blunt plastic knives
• Cloths or sponges for smoothing
• Rulers or strip measures
• Students’ approved plans from lesson 2
• Drying boards, labels and pencils
• the clay wall demonstration and reflection deck
• the clay wall planning and checking sheet

Assessment

• During the demonstration and building time, check whether students can score, add slip or water, press and blend joins rather than simply placing pieces together.
• Confer with students about their plan, asking them to justify choices about wall height, width, corners and strengthening; record students needing further support with joining or proportion.
• Review the worksheet and finished structure. Look for secure joins, stable walls, evidence of proportion checks and a reflection that identifies a specific technique or next step.

Differentiation

• Provide a visual sequence of the joining process, pre-divided clay portions, a simple wall template or a teacher/peer demonstration for students who need additional support.
• Offer sentence starters: “My wall is strong because…”, “I checked the proportion by…” and “Next time I will…”. Pair students strategically for feedback and use clear, demonstrated vocabulary for English language learners.
• Students with fine-motor or sensory needs may use larger clay pieces, adapted tools, a non-slip mat, short movement breaks or an alternative role such as checking measurements and documenting techniques.
• Extend confident students by challenging them to create a stable corner without adding excessive clay, explain how they distributed weight, or compare two joining methods and evaluate which was most effective.