State of Kentucky - Pottery and History Curriculum Lesson for Homeschooling or Summer Enrichment
Kentucky
Make learning about the states fun with this simple pottery lesson. First, study the state with your child. I've listed some fun facts about Kentucky. You can simply read through these, or you can use them as a starting point to do more research. Learn about Mammoth Cave or the Corvette factory in Bowling Green. Read a book about Stephen Foster. Explore Kentucky together.
Then, finish out the lesson by sculpting a cute horse head together. This project can be made with clay, Play-Doh or even home made dough. It's an easy and fun way to learn!
Kentucky State Facts
State Abbreviation: KY
Capital: Frankfort
State Nickname: The Bluegrass State
State Motto: “United we stand, divided we fall.”
State Song: “My Old Kentucky Home,” by Stephen Foster
State Flag
State Bird: Cardinal
State Tree: Tulip Tree
State Flower: Goldenrod
State Wild Animal: Gray Squirrel
Famous People Born in Kentucky:
Johnny Depp, actor
Muhammed Ali, boxer
Jim Varney, actor (Ernest)
George Clooney, actor
Abraham Lincoln, 16th US President
Billy Ray Cyrus, country singer, Miley’s dad
Duncan Hines, creator of the brand
Fun Facts:
The Kentucky Derby is the country’s oldest continuously held horse race.
Chevrolet Corvettes are manufactured in Bowling Green.
Mammoth Cave is the world’s longest and largest cave, and it is in Kentucky.
The song “Happy Birthday to You” was created by two sisters from Kentucky.
Thomas Edison introduced the light bulb at the Southern Exposition in 1883 in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Hatfield-McCoy feud took place in Pike County from the Civil War until the 1890s.
For Kentucky, we will sculpt a race horse.
Start with a chunk of clay.
Shape it into a peanut shape.
Push your fingers into it to make eye sockets.
Take smaller pieces of clay and make ear shapes. Attach those to the head.
If you are working with real clay and need to know how to properly attach the pieces, visit my Hub:
- How to Use Real Clay
This is an explanation of the proper way to use "real" clay.
Use a small piece of clay and scratch it with a fork to make it look like hair.
Attach the hair to the head.
Attach small balls to be eyes.
Use a skewer to make pupils.
Press your finger in the nose to make nostrils.
Make a worm (coil) that is about 2" long.
Flatten the worm and scratch it with a fork.
Make a small ball. (About 1" in diameter)
Attach the scratched worm on the ball like this. You are making the horse's neck.
Now, attach the horse head on the neck.
Your horse is ready to race!
