Let's Play Checkers! But First Let's Make Them!

5th Graders Clay Checker Project

My Example - I had as much fun as they did with this one!

This is one of those projects I've had in the back of my mind just waiting to fit it in a good place. I had a fun...but super social...5th grade class at Washington this year that I knew would enjoy the challenge and fun of making a checker set. So we spent the majority of 4th quarter working on it.

We spent many classes designing, sculpting, and glazing creative clay checkers. We created a checker board using tagboard that we painted. This took some math skills as well to use rulers to mark off 1 1/2 inch squares on a 12inch board. The students chose contrasting colors to paint their boards.

When it was all done - It was time to PLAY!! The last art class of the year was spent playing. Students took turns using their boards and pieces and fun was had by all! It was the perfect way to send off these students(that I have taught since Kindergarten) to the Jr. High.

Watch this video for highlights of this project!