Wings of Fire: Polymer Clay Dragons
Does your student love dragons or the Wings of Fire book series? In this four-lesson flex class, I will teach tools and shaping to create polymer clay dragons. I will also post weekly facts & discussion questions about the books.
Teacher Amanda Bestor
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(48)
What's included
5 pre-recorded lessons
5 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentMastery Evaluation
1 hour per week. I provide feedback on student work and offer support, but no letter grade.Grading
I provide feedback on student work and offer support, but no letter grade.Class Experience
US Grade 3 - 6
Beginner - Intermediate Level
In this polymer clay art class, students will learn how to use clay techniques to make dragon figurines. We will focus on the dragons from the Wings of Fire novel series, but students can suggest their mini-lesson video creation during the last week of class. I will make dragons from other fantasy books and movies based on interest and record mini-lessons. Each week, students will receive a video lesson they can watch while creating polymer dragons. This is an excellent resource because they can stop and replay videos. The videos will be 30 minutes to an hour long, and I will make the items listed for each week. I will also provide some reference photos for ideas of other items that they could make. In each lesson, I will talk them through the techniques that I am using and how they can do them. Students will learn how to use tools and how to shape clay. They will discuss the characters and favorite books in the series. We will discover how to shape eyes, connect wings, and add details to our characters. Students should bring an image of things they would like to make that are not pictured in the cover photo. I will have images of the characters attached to a handout that I will send before the class. We will also practice the following: - Blending - Smoothing - Tapering - Sculpting I will create one dragon from start to finish in each class. I will show students step by step, have a camera on myself, and switch to a camera on my hand while I work. Week 1: Sea Wing: Shaping bodies and all about polymer clay. Weekly fact and question post: The Kingdom of the Sea. Week 2: Rain Wing: Horns and Talons. Weekly fact and question post: The Rainforest Kingdom and Queen Glory. Week 3: Ice Wings: Adding details upon details, like spikes and fancy tails. Weekly fact and question post: Animus gifts in the Ice Wing trove and The Kingdom of Ice. Week 4: Movie dragons: Posable wings with aluminum foil baked in. In this week we talk about dragons on other movies and their details. (Sapphira, Smaug, A Hungarian Horntail, and the remaining dragons in the Wings of fire series not yet discussed. Weekly fact and question post: Different poses to try with your dragon, adding muscles to create stronger. This week we will create a dragon that is a combination of many cool dragons. Week 5: During the last week of class, students will have time to finish any videos that were not completed and to share dragons that they created on their own. There is not a video lesson this week, unless you requested on in advance. (They can also ask other questions or request a mini-lesson on a skill they need help with.) I am skilled at differentiating content for many ages and learning needs in a kind and supportive style. Students can ask questions in the classroom and add to their creations based on prior experience.
Learning Goals
-How fun and relaxing it is to talk, brainstorm, and create with others while creating things with polymer clay.-How to be patient and positive with yourself while learning new skills.
Syllabus
5 Lessons
over 5 WeeksLesson 1:
Sea Wing: Shaping bodies and all about polymer clay.
Week 1: Sea Wing: Shaping bodies and all about polymer clay. Weekly fact and question post: The Kingdom of the Sea. Lesson 2:
Rain Wing: Horns and Talons.
Week 2: Rain Wing: Horns and Talons. Weekly fact and question post: The Rainforest Kingdom and Queen Glory. Lesson 3:
Ice Wings: Adding details upon details, like spikes and fancy tails.
Week 3: Ice Wings: Adding details upon details, like spikes and fancy tails. Weekly fact and question post: Animus gifts in the Ice Wing trove and The Kingdom of Ice. Lesson 4:
Movie dragons: Posable wings with aluminum foil baked in.
Week 4: Movie dragons: Posable wings with aluminum foil baked in. In this week we talk about dragons on other movies and their details. (Sapphira, Smaug, A Hungarian Horntail, and the remaining dragons in the Wings of fire series not yet discussed.
Weekly fact and question post: Different poses to try with your dragon, adding muscles to create stronger. This week we will create a dragon that is a combination of many cool dragons. Other Details
Learning Needs
This class is designed to give ideas of how a student could modify a class to add their own creativity and showcase their own interest and direction.
Parental Guidance
Polymer clay will need to be baked for the clay to stay intact.
The instructions for baking are always listed on the package or kit of clay you purchase.
I usually go with 275 degrees for 30 minutes (Covered with a foil tent, depending on the thickness of the clay.)
Students will have access to a class Padlet where they can see images of and like the work of others. All posts need to be approved by me, so only appropriate posts will go up. The Padlet works like a giant bulletin board where students can see their peer's work and get more ideas about what to try on their own. They can also ask questions in the classroom and share techniques that work. in their posts. When parents enroll in the class, they will get a QR code and a video on how to post on Padlet. Padlet is free to join. I just log in with my Google account.
My pre-recorded videos are saved as individual YouTube links so that I can share video lessons that are 30-60 minutes long.
I will use Google slides to share images for reference photos or to post questions about characters in my weekly posts. At the beginning of each class, I will have students fill out a Google form where they can vote on their favorite character, book, and dragon type.
Supply List
Polymer clay in different colors. (Please be sure to get polymer clay and not Playdough, cloud dough, or plastalina.) Tools: paint brush rolling pin or acrylic roller toothpick plastic knife or butter knife parchment paper to build and bake on Masking tape to tape down a piece of parchment paper to work on. (A silicone mat works as well.) Aluminum foil Optional: You can glaze the polymer with polyurethane after it is cooked, making the pieces shiny and stronger. This kit from Amazon includes tools and clay: https://www.amazon.com/POZEAN-Modeling-Sculpting-Accessories-Beginners/dp/B07XXWXBDP/ref=asc_df_B07XXWXBDP/?tag=&=undefined&linkCode=df0&hvadid=385286500556&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14717096924917179729&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021381&hvtargid=pla-842312931008&ref=&adgrpid=81184155729&th=1 This kit is more expensive. but I love all of the colors and tools. It lasts me months while teach polymer classes. https://www.amazon.com/Polymer-Modeling-Earringsculpey-Jewelry-Sculpting/dp/B08L3RRMWJ/ref=sr_1_21?crid=1VADSPS5PCDSP&keywords=Polymer+clay&qid=1665115835&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI2Ljc0IiwicXNhIjoiNi42OCIsInFzcCI6IjYuMTMifQ%3D%3D&s=home-garden&sprefix=polymer+clay%2Cgarden%2C217&sr=1-21 You can also get clay at Michaels or JoAnn's. Polymer clay will not dry out if exposed to air.
Joined May, 2022
4.9
48reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Montana Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
I am an experienced classroom, afterschool program, and summer camp teacher and kind of a dragon nerd. :)Reviews
Self-Paced Class
$10
weekly or $48 for all content5 pre-recorded lessons
5 weeks of teacher support
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Completed by 7 learners
Choose your start date
Ages: 8-13
