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How to Make a Bear Out of Clay

Molding clay is an interesting way to create a three dimensional figure, such as a bear. Working with clay is an effective method to increase fine motor skills and manual dexterity. Some polymer clays require baking in a kiln or oven to harden and others, such as modeling clay, only need air-drying. Creating a realistic bear with clay is uncomplicated if you pay attention to proportion and technique.

Things You'll Need

Wax paper
Teddy bear (optional)
Brown and black clay
Toothpicks
Ribbon (optional)
Plastic flower (optional)
Buttons (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Tear off a sheet of wax paper and lay it on the work surface to protect it.
- 2
  Look at a real teddy bear if you have one available. This gives you or the child a guide to create your bear sculpture. Turn it around and upside down to see how each piece connects to each other. This observation helps you in forming a clay bear.
- 3
  Shape a large piece of clay into an oval shaped ball to form the bear's body. The size of the body is dependent on how large you want the bear to be once you finish the sculpture.
- 4
  Form four rectangle shapes out of the brown clay to make the bear's legs and arms. They need to be approximately half the length of the bear's body. Soften the sharp edges of the rectangle by smoothing the corners with your fingers.
- 5
  Press the bear's body gently onto the wax paper to give the bottom of the oval shape a flat surface. This allows the bear to sit up once your sculpture is complete.
- 6
  Stick a toothpick into the top of the oval shape. Place the head on top of the toothpick and push down until the head meets the body. This holds the head in place.
- 7
  Press the arms into place on the sides of the bear's body.
- 8
  Flatten one end of each of the bear's legs. This provides a flat surface for the bear's body to rest. Place the legs side by side on the wax paper and sit the bear's body on the flattened ends. Adjust the shape if the bear leans forward or backward.
- 9
  Shape two flat, tear drop shapes that are the same size to represent the bear's chubby cheeks. Set them in the center of the front of the bear's head with the narrowest sections of the tear drop shapes touching underneath the nose area.
- 10
  Form three small round balls out of the black clay to create the eyes and nose of the bear. Press them into the appropriate parts on the bear's face.
- 11
  Shape two round, flat circle shapes out of the brown clay. Make an indention with your thumb in the center of the circle shapes. This forms the ear. Attach them to the bear's head by using toothpicks and pressing the ears onto them.
- 12
  Allow the brown clay bear to dry according to the directions on the clay.

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