First Grade Clay Work

2/7/2018

It was with excitement and anticipation that our First Grade students began clay modeling in the Handwork Studio. The students gave their eyes and mouths a break while they used their hands to form a lovely sphere with the clay. What a wonderful moment it was at the end of our work when we compared a piece of clay set-aside at the beginning with the worked clay. When we held both pieces against our cheeks, how cold in contrast was the untouched piece of clay! Great astonishment!

We are inspired by the book Basic Sculptural Modeling: Developing the Will by Working with Pure Forms in the First Three Grades Hella Loewe

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Mrs. Barbara Albert
Practical Arts Teacher

Without knowing it, I was getting ready to teach Waldorf-Inspired Handwork and Woodwork for my entire life! I have been a lifelong maker and teacher. Growing up on the farm and prairies of Nebraska and raising three children gave me an appreciation for the power of hard willful work and real imaginative play. I hope that my passion for these subjects and love for my students will lead to caring people who find their own passion to make the world beautiful. I love to hear from students and parents. You may email me at balbert@mountainsage.org.

Miss Cat
Teresa Caterisano

Practical Arts Assistant Teacher

Teresa brings with her a love of learning new things and a strong connection to her students. She spends hours working behind the scene to make sure each student has all that they need to be their best selves during class time. When she is not in the classroom, you'll find Teresa and her husband volunteering at the school or on the soccer field!

We Love Volunteers!

Parent and community volunteers are welcome to volunteer in our Handwork and Woodwork Classrooms. You can learn more about becoming a volunteer on our website.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Do you have any of these things gathering dust at your house? We could use them!

Exacto knives
Wire cutter
4" and 7" embroidery hoops
Cotton fabrics (solid or with small prints)
Pieces of basswood, fruit woods
Scrap lumber
Yarn (we use natural yarns for knitting)
Carving gouges, chisels, and knives
Leather carving swivel knifes
Marble slabs (small for stamping leather against)
Woodburning pens
Long Carpenter's Levels
Brace and Bits
Steel Tapes
Awls
9 inch (ish) smoothing planes
5 inch (ish) block planes
Sliding Bevel Gauge/T Bevel
Marking Squares
Try Squares
Spoke Shaves
Rasps and Files (all shapes and sizes) for wood
Hand drills/Eggbeater drills and bits
Honing oil
Nail set
Ratcheting band clamps for picture frames/boxes
Dovetail saws
Hatchet
Wedges and Mauls for splitting logs
Carving knives, all types
Wood Gouges and Chisels, all types
Coping Saw Blades
Cordless Drills
Router and bits
Shave horse
Draw Knives
Treadle Sewing Machine
Sandpaper
Combination wrench set
Crescent wrench set
Cat's paw
Crow bar (for pulling nails)
Bench Vice
An assortment of screws and nails.
A woodshed complete with solar panels, a woodstove, and workbenches and stools, and the foundation to put it on! A teacher has to dream!

Handwork Wishes
Used Books Preferred
Here is an Amazon Wish List