Name of Activity: Sculpey Clay Panda
Type of modality
Art /Craft
Type of play
Solitary
Interaction pattern
Extra-Individual or Aggregate (could be done with
other people)
1+
# of participants required
Equipment/supplies
Facilities required/environment
Precautions
1 block of white sculpey clay, 1 block of black
sculpey clay pencil or pen (some kind of safe
sharp object to use for indentations), oven, pan,
mat or wax paper, oven mitts (timer if not on
oven)
Table, chair
Don’t put clay in mouth or in eyes, clay can stain
so do not get clay on clothing, be careful of hot
oven, do not use microwave to bake clay.
Sequence/Directions (Details of how a to move through the activity from start to finish) This can be
less than ten steps of more than ten steps…
1. Take a 1/4 of the white bar of clay and shape into a Tear drop for the body.
2. Take a 1/8” of the white bar of clay and make a ball for the head of the panda.
3. Make a ¼” white ball for the muzzle of the bear.
4. Make two small balls for the pads of the paws out of white clay and flatten. Make six 1/8”
flattened balls for the toes.
5. Take ¼ of the black bar of clay and shape into two clubs for the legs, slightly flattened on one end.
6. Take 1/2 row of clay and shape into clubs for the arms.
7. Make two small black flattened balls for the ears.
8. Out of Black clay - make one small triangle for the nose, two ¼” flattened ovals for the eye patches
and two tiny balls for the eyes. Out of white clay, make two tiny balls for the white part of the eyes.
9. Assemble the bear –firmly press pieces together without breaking them. Press the legs of to the
bottom sides of the body and the arms to the upper sides of the body. Press the paws onto the
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bottom of the legs. Press the muzzle, nose, eye patches and eyes to the head, then press the head
onto the top of the body. Finish by attaching the ears to the head
10. Preheat oven to 275oF, put panda on a oven safe glass or metal pan and bake for 15 minutes.
Activity Analysis (What is required of this activity without any adjustments, accommodations,
alterations)
Category
Skills
Primary body position
Sitting
Part of the body required
Hands, arms, eyes
Movement
Perception
Carrying in the hands, grasp: palmar, pincer, 3-jaw chuck,
manipulating, picking up and putting down objects, reaching,
releasing, turning or twisting hands
Dynamic sitting balance, bilateral integration, fine muscle
coordination, visual motor integration, active range of motion in
upper extremities
Alertness, attention, concentration, recognition: shape/form,
orientation: person, ability to read if reading directions, ability
to do math if calculating sizes such as “a ¼ of the bar, two clubs
for the legs”, 15 minutes time in oven
When done with others:
Handling criticism, starting conversations, interpersonal
interactions, social cues, maintaining social space, regulating
behavior, showing tolerance and respect, homogeneity,
heterogeneity
Visual and tactile
Communication/language
Reception to spoken language, reception of written language
Self-care
Wash hands before and after using clay
Physical
Cognitive
Social
Psychological/emotional (possible) Joy (when pleased with how clay sculpture comes out),
frustration (if participant cannot figure out how to make clay
figure, if it’s too complex)
SIMPLIFYING AND COMPLICATING THIS ACTIVITY:
Ways to SIMPLIFY demands
Cognitively
Include written instructions and
video so participants can better
Ways to make more COMPLEX
Pick a harder and more complex
animal figure that requires
more steps.
2
understand how to make it.
Give each person one part of
the panda to do.
Physically
Socially
Have panda shapes already
prepared so that a person just
has to press parts together
Do activity alone or with one or
two other participants (small
groups)
Stand up while doing activity
Have each person make a part
of the panda.
Other Comments: Make sure hands are washed before and after clay activity.
A panda is just one example, there are several other sculpey figures that can be made. Also,
participants can create their own sculpture!
Make sure an adult puts the clay sculptures in oven, safety first!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qphc8WZshQY
http://www.sculpey.com/product/sculpey-iii/ - where to buy sculpey clay
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