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Step by Step Lesson Plan: Clay Pantry, Coiled Condiments with Character
Introduction
This lesson is a good introduction to using clay. Students produce a small condiment bottle / jar of their choice using the coiling technique. Students get to experience rolling a slab, coiling, slip, scratching into the clay and painting their pieces. For a clay project it is relatively quick and students have autonomy over their choice of objects.
Duration:
5 - 6 hours
Aims:
• Be able to respond to an artist
• Understand how to construct using clay coils
• Understand the different stages of clay
• Understand how to paint their fired piece of clay using
appropriate materials
This accessible and engaging clay project makes an ideal introduction to ceramics for students, combining technical skills with personal storytelling. In this lesson, students use the coiling technique to construct a small condiment bottle or jar of their choice ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, Nutella, or anything else meaningful to them.
What makes this project effective is its balance between structure and creative freedom. While students follow a clear process (slab rolling, coiling, slip application, carving, and painting), they have autonomy over their choice of object, allowing for personal connection and reflection. Tying the object to a memory or person (e.g. a family member’s favourite sauce or a childhood snack) brings narrative into the work, deepening engagement and encouraging students to see clay as a storytelling medium, not just a craft.
The use of artist Mechelle Bounpraseuth as a reference supports the aim of responding to contemporary art practice. Her focus on nostalgic, everyday items made in clay demonstrates how ordinary objects can carry cultural and emotional weight.
The lesson is also compact for a clay project (5–6 hours), making it feasible within a half-term schedule. It introduces key ceramic concepts such as the stages of clay, the coiling method, and surface decoration with tangible outcomes and visibile progress in each session.
Step by step - Let's Create
1. Look at the work of Mechelle Bounpraseuth and understand her reasoning for creating clay objects. This may be a research lesson or slides on the board.
2. Students choose which condiment bottle / jar they would like to build, ideally one which reminds them of being younger or certain family / friends.
3. Roll out a clay base (10x10cm) around 1.5cm thick.
4. Draw the shape of the base of their chosen bottle or jar and cut out - most are circles for sauce bottles but some chose Nutella jars.
5. Build coils up into their desired shape using slip to join coils together if needed.
6. Once the shape is built, and the clay has dried to leather hard, students carve details such as labels / patterns using the clay tools.
7. Once the clay has been fired, students use acrylic to paint their base colours.
8. Finally use pen / fine liners / felt tips to add small details such as text.
CLAY IS A TACTILE, VERSATILE MATERIAL THAT ENCOURAGES CREATIVITY, RESILIENCE, AND HANDS-ON PROBLEM-SOLVING
Written by Greg Thomas, The Art Teacher
Greg Thomas is an artist and experienced art teacher from Greater Manchester who runs the free resource site The Art Teacher, offering lesson plans, project ideas and schemes of work for KS3 and KS4 art and design. His classroom-ready content supports teachers with practical, engaging art activities and creative inspiration.
For more information visit: www.theartteacher.net
