Under the guidance of retiring art teacher, Mrs. Carla Gialloreto, Penn-Trafford students at McCullough Elementary, Sunrise Estates, and Penn Middle schools have enjoyed creating kiln-fired ceramic sculptures during their clay units. “We are very fortunate at Penn-Trafford to be able to offer our students a clay experience,” commented Gialloreto. “Students can explore, experiment, and are given the freedom to try new ideas within the lesson.”
First-grade students are introduced to basic slab hand-building and embossing techniques. Subsequent grades add pinching, coil, and creating a hollow form. Working with clay is a process that helps develop creativity.
“Once the pieces are fired, it’s like Christmas when I open the kiln to see the array of color and creativity,” said Gialloreto. “It is such a rewarding feeling to see the students beaming with pride over the art piece they created themselves.”
Sunrise Elementary 1st-graders (front) Tierney Rayburg, Madeline Balas, (back) Charles Nero, Christian Castma, and Beau Torrance display their flower bowls
Sunrise Elementary 2nd-graders with their clay cupcakes
McCullough Elementary 3rd-graders work on their clay fish; (front) Sienna Zemba, Coraline Ward, (back) Cina Castelli, and Julian Bressan
Sunrise Elementary 4th-graders Jordan McLaughlin, Parker Loughner, and Jesse Kurisko hold their clay bird sculptures
Sunrise 4th-grader Sophie Mrdjenovich
Sunrise 5th-grader Niomi Kearns displays her clay face sculpture
McCullough 5th-graders Lily Milko and Owen Dandar sculpt clay face projects
Penn Middle 7th-graders Madison Bartling and Juliana Reilly hold their finished monster sculptures
Penn Middle 7th-grader Brayden Kraly