In Clay Lab for Kids, art teacher and winner of the Netflix bake-off show Nailed It! Cassie Stephens presents 52 hands-on projects made with kid-friendly clays that get kids working creatively and thinking three-dimensionally.

Squishy, colorful, and infinitely shapable, clay just might be the most versatile art material for kids. Author-artist-teacher Cassie Stephens has created all-new clay projects for kids of all skill levels. Start with the basics of rolling, coiling, and pinching pots, and move up to making "Jurassic fossils," animal marionettes, monster magnets, and boxes with secret compartments.

All of the projects use kid-friendly, no-kiln clay (air-dry, homemade, and polymer) and water-based paints, perfect for home and classroom, plus there's an entire chapter of recipes for mixing up inexpensive homemade clays in the kitchen.

When creating with clay, kids are introduced to a wide range of cognitive and manual skills: they'll work three-dimensionally; make figurative models; use their imaginations in making jewelry and toys; design with color; and decorate with paints.

The popular Lab for Kids series features a growing list of books that share hands-on activities and projects on a wide host of topics, including art, astronomy, bugs, geology, math, and even how to create your own circus—all authored by established experts in their fields. Each lab contains a complete materials list, clear step-by-step photographs of the process, as well as finished samples. The labs can be used as singular projects or as part of a yearlong curriculum of experiential learning. The activities are open-ended, designed to be explored over and over, often with different results. Geared toward being taught or guided by adults, they are enriching for a range of ages and skill levels. Gain firsthand knowledge on your favorite topic with Lab for Kids.

Unit One: Creating with Kids and Clay
How This Book is Organized
Basic Supplies
Variety of Clays
Basic Tips
Glossary of Clay Terms
Clean up and Caring
 
Unit Two: Air Dry Clays and Learning the Basics
Lab 1: Shoe Stamped Pottery
Lab 2: Coffee and a Donut
Lab 3: Textured Landscape Plaque
Lab 4: Cupcake Containers
Lab 5: Stack of Pancakes
Lab 6: Coil Press Pot
Lab 7: Monogramed Wall Hanging
Lab 8: Dropped Cone Sculpture
Lab 9: Wax Resist Leaf Dish
Lab 10: Line Relief Pencil Cup
Lab 11: Hamburger Holder
 
Unit Three: Clay Sculpture
Lab 12: A Clay Coat of Arms
Lab 13: Pie Safe
Lab 14: Egyptian Sarcophagus
Lab 15: Magical Forest Friend Door
Lab 16: Miniature Cacti Garden
Lab 17: Garden Gnome Home
Lab 18: Bobble Head Pets
Lab 19: Castle on a Hill
Lab 20: Crayon and Pencil Project
Lab 21: Woodland Creature Portraits
Lab 22: Viking Ships
Lab 23: Marionette Puppets
Lab 24: Animals Masquerade Masks
 
Unit Four: Polymer Clay and Learning the Basics
 
Lab 25: Glittery Geodes
Lab 26: Color Mixing Clock
Lab 27: Fun Fortune Cookies
Lab 28: Light Up Lightning Bugs
Lab 29: All About Me Mobile
 
Unit Five: Polymer Clay Sculpture
 
Lab 30: Tie Die Turtles
Lab 31: Miniature Accordion Books
Lab 32: Sushi for Supper
Lab 33: Glitter Bugs
Lab 34: Monster Face Magnets
Lab 36: Back Pack Charms
Lab 37: Game Pieces and Dice for Your Own Game
Lab 38: Let Your Light Shine Night Light
Lab 39: Funky Faux-saic
Lab 40: Desktop Dinos
 
Unit Six: Making My Own Clays
 
Lab 41: Simple No-Cook Clay
Lab 42: Stamped Clay Ornaments
Lab 43: Scented Clay Acorns
Lab 44: Kool Aid Play Dough
Lab 45: Kool Aid Clay Popsicles
Lab 46: Jurassic Fossils with Sand Clay
Lab 47: Glitter Clay Beads
Lab 48: Make Your Own Silly Putty
Lab 49: Salt Dough Rose Sculpture
Lab 50: Salt Dough Bird Sculpture
Lab 51: Salt Dough Texture Fish
Lab 52: Candy Clay