 |
Easter Activities
- Terrific Tiles
I made a clay pot when I was five, and it still
sits proudly in my parents’ house. It’s not the
best pot ever, it wobbles, and if you ever tried to put any
fluid in it, it would drain through the not insignificant hole
in one side. But its porous nature wasn’t the point; just
making it was the point and I can still remember my flushed
feeling of pride when I presented it to my parents at home.
Kids of all ages remain fascinated by the art of making ‘useful’
things, and we’re sure that today’s clay tile making
activity at the castle will appeal to this creative urge.
The art of clay-tile making can be traced back at least eight
thousand years, and fundamentally, the process remains the same
today. Technological advances, such as glazed decoration, were
then introduced a few thousand years later by the Egyptians,
and the knowledge spread to Europe via the Moors invasion of
Spain. However, though there is an interesting history to the
process, the real meat of the session will concentrate on the
fun of actually making the things. Every child will get the
opportunity to design and make their own tile. Then, best of
all, at the end of the session, the proud youngsters get to
take their masterpieces home, where, I’m sure, the tile
will be admired by themselves, their friends and all passing
family members for many years to come. NW |
|
|
Childs’ clay: tile painting at the castle |
