Clay Nativity Scene

In order to remember the beautiful story of the first Christmas, the children created a Nativity scene using air-drying clay and simple 3D shapes, mostly spheres. 

This was a great opportunity to work out those gross motor skills through kneading and rolling. Fine motor skills came out to play when adding those fine details, pinching clay to flatten it for the head dresses and manger and to create the star...

The children also used slip (small pieces of clay diluted in water, which acts as glue for clay) to secure the pieces together, wire to place the star above, and last but not least, they used the toothpick, which they have created the facial and tiny details with, as St Joseph's stick!

Painting...

The end result....