Clay Medallions

This project can be completed with either firing clay or air dry clay. It's a fun and simple project using texture, but could lend itself to many content goals. For example, as designs and imagery are an important part of many cultures, this project could be integrated with a social studies unit (i.e. Aztec designs). You could also focus on patterns for younger children or radial symmetry for older students. Children could study ancient coins or make their own during an economics unit... Many options here, but the basic design principles are the same.

I used Sculpt-it air dry clay as we created our medallions the day the kiln was firing. Next time I do this project, however, I'll try it with firing clay as glazing effects would be beautiful and suitable for outdoor display. This would be a nice school garden installation or community building project as well.

1. Roll clay into a golf-ball sized piece.
2. Flatten into a "cookie."
3. Add texture to your liking.
(I used texture tools we found on nature walks as ours was part of a natural world exploration.)
4. Make holes in the top and bottom of each medallion. (Note that the bottom medallion would only need one hole.)
5. Let dry or fire.

6. To finish, we painted these with  metallic acrylics. I watered down the paint in order to give it a more antique look.
7. I cut lengths of aluminum wire for children to link their medallions together because it's very pliable and easy for small hands to work with, though any wire or large jump rings would work.