CLAY•WORKS

CLAY●WORKS is based on the belief that story telling and art making are common and valuable parts of our humanity. The program's success results from the keen interest 6 to 12 year old students take in the opening story, in the teaching and demonstration of sculpting and in their own sculpting. The program offers a variety of learning modalities, including listening, rhyming, gestures and humor.

Programs

“ME FIRST” by Helen Lester – pig, sand witch, sand castle

When Rodney the pig volunteers so "care for a sandwi(t)ch" on his field trip to the beach, he gets more than he bargained for. Lester highlights a number of important values such as sharing and helping in this witty story.

“THE SERPENT WHO CAME TO GLOUCESTER” by M.T. Anderson – sea serpent or original deep sea creature

Told in haunting rhyme, with illustrations evoking the 19th century, this historically based tale raises questions of how we regard the unknown. A story children request repeatedly.

“LOST” by David McPhail – bear, swan, or lion

Bear and boy help each other navigate their respective habitats of woods and city (Boston) , forming a friendship as they do. Enlivened by wonderful depictions of beloved Boston landmarks-the swam boats in the Boston Common and marble lions of the Boston Public Library in Copley Square, where I have presented this program!

“DIARY OF A WOMBAT” by Jackie French – wombat
This pesky marsupial's pranks mirror its nonfiction model-gnawing doors, digging holes and eating garden vegetables. Kids relate to this mischief maker and enjoy sculpting this bear like prankster from "down under.''

“HUNWICK'S EGG” by Mem Fox – bandicoot
The story of this gentle creature and the chance to sculpt an animal their friends and family haven't heard of delights kids. Fox's skillful storytelling shows kids how acceptance can lead to happiness.

“WILD ABOUT BOOKS” by Judy Sierrra – beavers, lizards, bears, and penguins
Librarian Molly McGrew intrigues all the animals in the zoo when she mistakenly parks the book mobile near the zoo and starts reading aloud. Writing in the rhyming style Dr. Seuss made famous, Sierra shows the exciting possibilities libraries offer readers - from books in Chinese for the pandas to joke books for the hyenas!

“TACKY THE PENGUIN” by Helen Lester – baby & adult penguins, arctic wolves, & foxes
Kids love to hear about that polar rascal Tacky and his friends and join in singing their songs "loudly and horribly" to ward off the hunters. Encourages appreciation of differences.

“UNCOMMON TRAVELER, MARY KINGSLEY IN AFRICA” by Don Brown – crocodiles, hippos, and elephants
Mary Kingsley spent a solitary childhood outside London. The books in her father's library shaped her love of Africa. In West Africa she was the first foreigner to reach the uncharted Rambouee River, braving rapids, swamps and wild animals with humor and zest. When a hippo blocked her path, she wrote, "I scratched the ear with my umbrella and we parted on good terms." Back in England, Mary wrote two books about her adventures and spoke about them to large audiences. She also collected botanical and fish specimens.

“SOPHIA THE SPOTTED TURTLE” Ann McCrea based “Year of the Turtle” and “Swamp Walker” by David Carroll – turtles and salamanders
Turtles led Carroll to explore swamps, ponds and vernal pools throughout New England. For over four decades, he has observed this species more ancient than dinosaurs. His drawings and vivid writing allow us to enter their haunts and habitats as we see them hibernating, hunting, and playing their hide and seek mating games.

“BLUEBERRIES FOR SAL”, “MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS” & “ONE MORNING IN MAINE”, by Robert McClosky – seals, gulls, ducklings, and black bears
These classics still appeal to children. Whether celebrating birds and animals of the shore, field or urban Boston Common, McClosky's characters and their adventures transport us to these special places. The program uses excerpts from two of the three books listed.

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Set Up

Students sit on floor in circle for the story and teaching, then sculpt at tables.

The program lasts 70 minutes and is limited to 25 5-12 year olds for sculpting (no limit for story.)

The $295 fee includes materials: terra cotta clay in Ziploc bags, tools, and sample sculpture

(additional travel expenses may apply.)

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Recommendations

For nearly 30 years, Ann McCrea has taught more than 15,000 children in schools and libraries through her acclaimed CLAY●WORKS program. The Children’s Librarian of New Hampshire selected her twice as one of the ten artists to take part in the “Kids, Books, and the Arts” program.

It has become tradition to include Ann’s program in the summer schedule and we all look forward to it. She is such a talented teacher, imbuing 6 to 12 year old students with a desire for creativity and balance in their work. Her stories capture their hearts and minds and her skills as an instructor are wonderful. Gentle reminders and repetition of her instructions carry the young artists a long way. – Laurie Collins, Children’s Librarian, Newbury Town Library, Newbury MA

Ann McCrea is an artist who shares sculpting techniques with enthusiasm and discipline in a way that helps children succeed. Our middle grade sculptors were very pleased with the elephant and crocodiles that they sculpted during the Mary Kingsley program that Ann brought to our library. – Linda Champion, Children’s Programmer, Morse Institute Library, Natick MA

Ann’s story, “Sophia the Spotted Turtle” introduced my sixth graders to the life cycle of this species of special concern in an entertaining way. It helped them see how they can become involved as the stewards of their local environment. The clay sculpting engaged students of diverse learning styles. Art, science and literature came together in a way that was fun for all involved. – Dr. Joyce Rains, Science Department, Spofford Pond Elementary School, Boxford MA

CLAY●WORKS is one of the few programs we like to repeat over and over at our library. The merger of telling a good story, learning how to manipulate the clay and then creating animals from that story is a winning combination for the participants. And the children are always absolutely thrilled as they head home, proudly holding their clay animals aloft. A great program for the school age set! – Noelle Couture, Children's Librarian, Tewksbury Public Library

Inspired by Ann’s telling of her story, “Sophia the Spotted Turtle,” intrigued by her sculpting and informed by her teaching, kids then sculpted their own outstanding turtles and salamanders which they were proud of. – Lisa Hutchings, Teacher Naturalist, Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport MA