Clay Ladybugs

I was racking my brain for a second grade clay project. I have often done clay fish plaques, and dried them over a bowl to make them into candy dishes but I can't do that this year. Not only have the second graders done a couple of projects using fish, but I don't have any glazes at this school, and wouldn't want them eating out of a watercolored dish. I thought little bugs would be cute, but wanted to know more about bug anatomy before attacking this project. After Googling "bug anatomy," I found this image of Ladybug anatomy that produced an idea.

I started with three balls of clay, large, medium, and small.

Made the large one into a pinch pot for the ladybug's body.

Then I made the medium one into a pinch pot and cut it in half for the elytra. I only attached them at the front of the bigger pinch pot.

Repeat with the other side of the cut pinch pot. Then make the smallest ball of clay into an oval shape and attach it under the joint of the elytra.

After the children paint these with watercolors, I plan on having them make wings out of wax paper to glue between the body and elytra. Wiggle eyes and wire will complete our little sculptures. I hope they turn out as cute as they are in my head!