Frequently asked questions about the Clay for Kids program:

Why should I choose Clay for Kids to work with my class?
How long is the Clay for Kids program?
Do you have a minimum class size?
Do you have a maximum class size?
Does Clay for Kids come to my classroom?
Can we work in my classroom?
What do you bring into the classroom?
Do I need to have anything ready before Clay for Kids comes to my classroom?
Do you need volunteers in the classroom?
Is the clay messy in my classroom?
Are the projects delivered back to me or do I have to pick them up?
How do I select my project?
What curriculum subjects are covered?
How do I make a booking?
What information should I have ready before making a booking?
When should I make a booking for a special event or a curriculum unit?
When is payment due?
Does Clay for Kids have a cancellation policy?
Do the students use the Clay for Kids pottery wheel?
Do you teach special needs students?
Can classes be taught in other languages?
Will all my students successfully accomplish the project?
What are the benefits of working with clay?

Q. Why should I choose Clay for Kids to work with my class?

A. You should choose Clay for Kids because your students will create the most amazing projects, like Chinese Dragons, Grecian Urn, Peruvain Child.

We originated this instructional concept in Canada and offer:
- Over 50 art and curriculum projects to choose from
- A pottery wheel demonstration with every class
- No field trip transportation of students or insurance concerns
- Our program is clean, fun and safe
- A proven educational program that has been created by a professional potter and has been perfected over 24 years of operation
- please click here for more reasons to choose Clay for Kids

Q. How long is the Clay for Kids program?

A. Each class is 60 to 90 minutes long, depending on the grade and complexity of the project. Curriculum projects such as Greek Columns, Teepee (including base), Tunisian Dougga Dwelling, Alberta Crest take a full 90 minutes. We prefer single class instruction for these more involved projects.

Q. Do you have a minimum class size?

A. No class or group is too small. We have a minimum price of $145.00 for any class with less than 18 students. If you have a group of 18 or less you may want to consider joining with another class.

Q. Do you have a maximum class size?

A. We have instructed double classes with up to 45 students in one 90 minute session. We believe, especially for our curriculum projects such as Grecian Urns, Chinese Dragons or Peruvian Girl, the students and their projects will benefit from Clay for Kids in a single class setting.
We will combine classes for the simpler art projects. More volunteers will be required for double classes.

Q. Does Clay for Kids come to my classroom?

A. Yes. The program is completely portable including our one of a kind portable pottery wheel we use for demonstration. A short list of our needs will be faxed along with the confirmation two weeks before our visit.

Q. Can we work in my classroom?

A. Yes we can deliver the program in a typical classroom. If there are several classes booked for the day in one school, then it is more efficient to use one room, such as the art/science room or lunchroom, for all classes.

Q. What do you bring into the classroom?

A. We bring our custom built Clay for Kids pottery wheel which is used for the clay throwing demonstration. We also supply the clay for the chosen project, a drop sheet to cover the instructor's table and containers to transport the finished work to our studio. Pictures of curriculum projects and other supporting information are also shared with the students. All of these supplies are brought to and from your site on our carts and no assistance is normally required in a typical barrier-free school.

Q. Do I need to have anything ready before Clay for Kids comes to my classroom?

A. Yes. Since classes are often booked several weeks in advance, we fax a confirmation and procedures page to you two weeks before your scheduled class. This page can then be placed in your daybook as a reminder of our scheduled visit. It will confirm the time, date, project and the required items (paper towels, small containers of water, toothpicks, and a table for the clay throwing demonstration near an electrical outlet). We love to see nametags so we can call the students by their name. We, of course, will wear our Clay for Kids nametag.

Q. Do you need volunteers in the classroom?

A. For preschool we require one adult for every three students.

For Single Classes; For Kindergarten we require one adult for every 5 students. In grades 1-3 one adult is advised. No adult volunteers are necessary for grades 4-6 unless there is a special need known by the teacher.

For Double Classes over 30 students;

We would require one adult for every 5 students for double classes for every grade from Kindergarten - grade 6.

Our 24 years of experience in schools, teaching children how to work with clay, and our detailed instructions allow the students to successfully accomplish their own projects and feel good about their own work. As Carol Ceroici from an Edmonton Public School states "Clay for Kids has excellent step by step instructions and a demonstration that is easy to understand and leaves the students confident that they will succeed in the project."

Q. Is the clay messy in my classroom?

A. Definitely not as this is a safe and clean program. We use Plainsman's Gray Buffstone clay which is supplied specifically for use in schools. We do the clay throwing demonstration with the electric Clay for Kids Pottery Wheel on a plastic drop sheet which we bring to cover the table. Our method of instruction minimizes any mess.

Q. Are the projects delivered back to me or do I have to pick them up?

A. Projects will be delivered to locations within the city. Outside city limits, there is a mileage charge to deliver the project to you, alternatively, projects can be picked up from your instructor in the city.

Q. How do I select my project?

A. Please refer to our website, www.clayforkids.com, for all of our available projects. We will be happy to send our current brochure and catalogue of all current projects to your school upon request.

Q. What curriculum subjects are covered?

A. We have over 50 different curriculum projects for you to chose from for Art, Social Studies, Science and Language Arts studies. We stay current with the changing curriculum and will adapt an existing project or even create a new project for a unit if given sufficient notice. Our teachers are our greatest source of inspiration!

Q. How do I make a booking?

A. We have made it as easy as possible for you to book a class:
- you can use the on-line class booking form on our website
- you can print a copy of the booking form on our website and forward it by fax or
- you can also contact us by telephone or email

Q. What information should I have ready before making a booking?

A. We will need your name, school, grade, number of students in your class, desired date/time and the selected project. If you are also making bookings for other classes, we will need the same information for each class. You should also have alternative dates in mind in case your first choice is not available.

Q. When should I make a booking for a special event or a curriculum unit?

A. Once the pottery class is completed, the clay work must be returned to our studio, dried, and fired in our kiln. As a result, it may take up to 21 days to return the work. Therefore, please contact us as early as possible to book your preferred dates. November, December, March, April and May are particularly heavily booked months.

Q. When is payment due?

A. An invoice will be faxed to Accounts Payable at the school along with the fax confirmation two weeks before the date of the class. The invoice will clearly state the date of the classes, cost per student or flat fee, GST, all participating grades and teacher's names. Payment is due within 30 days of the date of the class.

Q. Does Clay for Kids have a cancellation policy?

A. Yes. If there is a cancellation within 14 days of booked date a $50.00 fee will be charged for a single class cancelled or $100.00 for 2 or more classes cancelled in a day.

Q. Do the students use the Clay for Kids pottery wheel?

A. No, we use the Clay for Kids pottery wheel for demonstration purposes only. Many children have never seen a pottery wheel in action before and this is a very calming experience for the entire class.

While working on the wheel, we ask the students questions about clay. Where does it come from? What colors of clay are in the ground? We also discuss the firing process in terms that can be understood by each grade. By the time the pottery wheel demonstration is over, the students have received a basic understanding of clay and are ready to work on the selected project. We believe that this clay throwing demonstration is critical to this learning experience and we manufacture this portable wheel exclusively for use by our instructors.

Q. Do you teach special needs students?

A. Yes. We will discuss levels of need when booking the class and will suggest an appropriate project that can be successfully accomplished by participating students.

Q. Can classes be taught in other languages?

A. This varies with each location. Please contact your local representative for more information.

Q. Will all my students successfully accomplish the project?

A. Yes!

Q. What are the benefits of working with clay?

A. The purpose of art instruction in the elementary school is in keeping with the general objectives of education. Art experiences should contribute to an individual’s knowledge and to the development of those habits, skills and attitudes that will aid him in adjusting to his environment. He should become aware of and sensitive to beauty in nature, and art. When the instructional environment includes a variety of art media, children tend to experiment with them. As a prime example, children like to model with clay because using the material allows them to express their ideas and feelings.

One of the most important studies on arts education was released by the US Department of Education in the winter of 1998. Based on a 20 year study by Dr. James Catteral at UCLA involving over 25,000 secondary school students, the results showed that involvement with the arts is linked to higher academic performance, increased standardized test scores, more community service and lower dropout rates.

These findings are reinforced by two other recent studies. The Florida Department of Education has reported a direct correlation between an active fine arts program and increased student motivation and a lower dropout rate. The second study, conducted by the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild in Pittsburgh (an organization that apprentices young at-risk, inner-city students in the arts while teaching them math, English and other subjects), has also found a correlation between the arts and student academic performance.