Our class has been exploring clay in art lessons and learning a variety of techniques to shape and decorate it. We began by rolling the clay in different ways—using our hands and rolling pins to create flat slabs and coils. Then, we experimented with creating texture by pressing different objects into the surface, such as Lego, foil, and tools, to see what kinds of patterns we could make. Each child chose an African animal to sculpt, carefully shaping features and adding detail using the slip technique to join pieces securely. We also made pinch pots by shaping small bowls with just our fingers, learning how to smooth and form the edges. To finish our clay unit, we designed our own decorative tiles, combining all the techniques we had learned. It was a messy but exciting project that helped us build confidence and creativity with a new material.