Providing students with an active clay and sculpture program builds many opportunities for learning. Clay is a unique art material that is highly responsive to touch and very forgiving. In this sense, allowing for mistakes and playful art making gives students a sense of control, builds personal confidence and opens the mind to a greater sense of self-expression and imagination.
Applying sculpture skills, SKSS students shared a connection with our
neighbouring elementary school (Lloyd George) by teaching clay techniques to Mme
Girard’s grade 2 class. We decided on a
theme of Friendship & Peace. Just incase we could save the world, one grade two student at a time! Students
worked with clay slabs to cut their hand shape from both high school and
elementary students to create a collaborative bowl. To finish the designs, students added french or english words and symbols that represented our peace and friendship theme. 
Excited young artists chattered and worked hard over two sessions of classes creating common ground through their clay work and glazing. Perhaps most importantly, SKSS students spoke about the valuable outcome of our collaboration, which was more than our colourful hand-bowls. In fact, they expressed that teaching and working with young students reminded them of the importance of helping others and the significance of art making at any age.
