Christmas Decorations out of Clay

This lesson was prepared for Allowah Presbyterian Childrens Hospital
by Michelle Golding

Objective: Students will manipulate clay and use brushes to apply slip. Students will observe/feel the changes in clay from impermanent to permanent states. Students will make a pottery item that can be given as a gift.

Students: This lesson can be used for a small group and adapted depending on ability. Special care and individual attention needs to be given for students inclined to mouth objects. Slip is liquid clay with oxides and stains mixed in.

Materials: Terracotta or earthenware clay, heavy calico or newspaper for rolling clay onto, rolling pin, circular lid for cutting out circles of clay (6 or 7cm in diameter), a straw for making the hanging hole, a sponge, coloured slips (green, dark pink, yellow, white and blue), paper Christmas cutout stencil shapes (see below), several soft brushes, clear gloss glaze, Christmas ribbon, carving tools or pencils.
Kiln or kiln service.

Safety issues: Keep dust to a minimum by using wet sponges to clean up, keep clay blocks covered with plastic when not used. Use aprons and make sure all clay is cleaned off students at the end of the session.

Method:

Templates:
1.      2.

3.

1. Make about 6 angels and fold over paper and cut out with scissors.
2. Fold up paper to make a  then cut out multiple trees like a paper doll then you drape a row of trees across the clay for a nice effect.

3. You can do a similar fold with the star to make a row of stars or single stars. They only need to be about 3 to 5cm in height.

Equipment: Brown poster board, construction paper, colored foam, paints, markers, etc.

Objective: Seasonal orientation, artistic self expression, sharing ideas.

Description: Make a bare tree from poster board, ( any size, ours is about 3 feet high) Each season and or holiday gather for ideas on what to put on the tree, ( affix items with ""sticky putty"" to remove easily) Example: sponge paint leaves for the fall, cut out holly from foam or construction paper for X-mas, dreidles for Hanukah, flowers & birds in spring, snowmen, suns etc. Decorate tree with items. This makes a good central point near perhaps the rooms bulletin board, is colorful and good source of season orientation.

Equipment: Candy canes, Strips of fabric, glue.

Description: Rip fabric in 1 inch strips about 20inchs long. Glue one end of fabric to top of candy cane. Then start wrapping fabric around candy cane over lapping some. When you get to the end glue to fabric to the bottom. Let dry. Then let the residents hang them on the Christmas tree. This activity also stirs memories of Christmases of the past

Size of Group: small or large

Equipment: Cinnamon, apple sauce, bowl spoon, wax paper, rolling pin, cookie cutters

Objective: Sensory Stimulation, Reality orientation, Cognitive enhancement, relaxation, increase hand strength and flexibility

Description: Place cinnamon in a bowl. Slowly mix the apple sauce in with the cinnamon You should have a dough like consistency. Place dough on wax paper and place another piece of wax paper on top. Roll the doe with a rolling pin. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters. You can use other cookie decorations such as silver and gold balls found in the cake decorating area of the stores. Make a hole in the top and let dry. It takes approx. 24 hrs to completely dry. Thread a ribbon through the hole. These are very fragrent but don't eat them.

Size: 6-10

Equipment: Green construction paper, puzzle pieces, tacky glue, green spray paint, newspaper, thin red ribbon, decorative string.

Objective: A fun way for clients to achieve a sense of accoplishment and to include them in the decorating process for Christmas.

Description: Cut a circle from green construction paper that measures approximately 3" in diameter. Cut the middle out of the circle to leave a wreath-like ring. Take puzzle pieces (I used a puzzle that was missing pieces) and begin gluing them onto the construction paper face side up. Glue 2 more layers of puzzle pieces, staggering the layers. Spray the wreath with green spray paint(make sure you have plenty of newspaper). While the paint is drying make bows from the red ribbon. Then, glue the ribbon to the front of the wreath and glue the decorative string to the back so it can be hung from the tree.

Xmas Card Ornament (activity for individuals with dementia) submitted by Brenda Dickinson, R.T. of Life Enhancing Activity Program on November 9, 1999

Size of Group: 6-10

Equipment: Old xmas cards, scissors, tacky glue, green or red felt, thin red or green ribbon, hole punch, pen

Objective: This activity is so easy that people with severe dementia will enjoy. They will receive pleasure looking at the colorful cards & feel successful making an ornament for themselves or as a gift.

Description: Put out a large number of old Xmas cars on a table. Allow the residents, patients, etc. to browse throught the cards & pick one they like. Ask them to show the part of the card they want cut out, such as Santa, xmas tree,etc... Keep the size of the card appropriate for an ornament. Trace the desired area with a dark pen & have resident cut out if they are able to. If not, the rec. ther. or act. dir. should do. Glue felt to back of card & trim excess. Punch hole on the top & put ribbon through to make a loop to hang from tree. An instant ornament & also makes a great gift for someone to give.

Instruction: Ask each person in the group at least one question from the list below. If they answer YES to one of the question, write their name on the line beside the question.... then go on to the next person and ask them another question until the entire sheet is completed.

Important: a person name can only appear once on this sheet.

On the 12th day of Christmas....

1) have you ever seen a real partridge on a pear tree? ________

2) do you still believe in SANTA CLAUS? _______________________

3) have you ever received a gift you really hated? What was it? _______

4) have you ever been hit in the head or face with a snow ball? _______

5) have you ever though you were going to die when skiing or sled riding? ________

6) can you sing the first lines to FROSTY THE SNOW MAN? Prove it? ______

7) do you like fruit cake? __________

8) have you ever been kissed under a mistletoe? ____________

9) can you name all of Santa's reindeers? _________________

10) do you know what Santa's original hair color was? ______________

11) when you were a kid, did you cry or were scared when you had to sit on Santa's lap? _____

12) when you were a kid, did you ever stay up all night trying to catch Santa? ______________

When done, turn this sheet to your group leader.