A few weeks ago, the Speed Cars got their first taste at the potter’s wheel this year. Pottery Dave spoke about force and pressure, and how they were needed to turn the wheel, and shape the clay into a bowl or plate.

Friends recalled the discussion with Kim during science class while making bridges. The Speed Cars pressed their hands against each other to show how force and pressure can feel. Then he invited the friends to put gentle pressure onto the clay on the Potter’s wheel while it was spinning!

It was fun to see and feel the clay change shape and later take on green and blue shiny glaze.

Children exercised their finger muscles and coordination, and practiced their painting-tool-grip and aim. It was slightly unnerving to wait for their special turn to come to the wheel. But when their turn came up, each Speed Car was visibly excited but also careful and attentive to Pottery Dave’s instructions. He uses the phrase “tippy toe, tippy toe” to describe gentle, precise hand movements. On other days, Jahidah describes this discipline with the phrase “bird fingers”. With these experiences, your children are getting a taste of similes and metaphors.

We could not wait for Pottery Dave to show us the fired bowl, after it emerges from the “hot, hot kiln”.