There are many types of clay used in art projects with kids. If you are thinking about complementing your teaching with hands-on clay art projects, it helps to understand the types of clay available on the market. Once you are familiar with the various media, planning your projects will be much simpler.
Play Dough
Play dough is perhaps the most well-known of all clays used in children's art projects. You can purchase play dough at most major retailers in a wide variety of colors. You might also use a recipe combining flour, water, salt and food coloring to create your own play dough. Play dough can be shaped easily and either left out to dry or placed into airtight containers so that it can be used over and over again.
Modeling Clay
Modeling clay comes in bright colors and is oil-based so it never dries out. Modeling clay is ideal if you need clay that can be displayed for long periods of time and then reused. It usually comes in blocks that feel quite firm to the touch. The clay softens as warm hands work with it and becomes relatively easy to shape, especially for older elementary age students.
Polymer Clay
Polymer clay is similar in consistency to modeling clay, though sometimes a bit firmer. Polymer clay is intended to be shaped and then fired in a conventional household oven. This type of clay would be perfect if you want your students to make jewelry. The children could create the beads, you could fire them in your home oven, and then the children could string the beads.
Firing Clay
Firing clay is traditional earthen clay that can be sculpted and then fired in a professional kiln. Be sure that your art department has access to a kiln for firing the clay. Earthen clays are generally semi-firm at room temperature and easily softened by hand. This clay dries rather dirty on the hands and children should use smocks when working with it.
Foam-Based Clay
Foam-based clay, such as Model Magic, is a lightweight, quickly drying form of modeling clay. Foam-based clay is generally nontoxic and does not stain, making it relatively clean to work with in the classroom. Foam-based clays can be used to make everything from book covers to cards to small containers, making it easily adaptable to a variety of lesson plans.
