There are some lessons you teach that go beyond just projects.
They carry a story.
A person.
A feeling.
This clay fish project is one of those.
It’s not originally mine—it’s Mrs. Faltico’s. She’s been teaching at our school for over 30 years (and this year, retiring for the third time). This is one of those projects that students remember long after they leave the art room. She first got the idea from an artwork she saw in Sardinia, Italy, and over the years, she’s made it her own—refining it, repeating it, and sharing it with generations of students.
This year, she passed it along to me. And as I taught it, I kept thinking—this is what it looks like when a lesson becomes part of a teacher’s legacy.
When I’m setting up for a clay project, I like to keep things as simple and smooth as possible. I pre-cut the clay and place each portion into individual zip-lock bags so students can easily grab what they need without waiting or crowding. Before class begins, I set the clay and tools out on each table so everything is ready to go (I call this “setting the table”). Doing this makes the start of class feel calm and focused—and lets students get right into the work.
I’m lucky to have access to a kiln and the materials needed to work with clay at my school—but I know that’s not the case for everyone.
If you’re trying this project at home or in a setting without a kiln, it’s easy to adapt. You can use air-dry clay instead of kiln-fired clay, and acrylic paint in place of glaze.
The process—and the creativity—stay the same.
Mrs. Faltico often did this clay project with 2nd graders, and this year I did it with my 7th grade. This lesson is very versatile for many different grades!
This is one of those projects I know I’ll continue to teach year after year.
And every time I do, I’ll think of where it came from—
of the students who made it before,
and of the teacher who made it what it is.
Some lessons don’t just stay in the classroom.
They stay with us.
I feel so honored that she shared this lesson with me, and I’ll carry it forward for years to come—always thinking of her when we make it.
There’s something really special about the way this lesson unfolds.
It’s structured—but still gives students so much room to make it their own (as you’ll see in the examples).
Each step feels manageable.
Each piece feels important.
And in the end, it all comes together into something that feels bigger than the individual parts.
Students began by rolling out slabs of clay and cutting out several small shapes—these would later become the “sections” of their fish. I used templates that Mrs. Faltico shared with me. You can easily make these one year and then save them for years to come. Simply draw the fish shape you want and then “slice” the pieces – you can number them so the kids get the right number of pieces when they are finished.
Each piece was intentionally simple and easy to trace and cut out.
Then came the best part—adding texture.
Students used tools, stamps, and anything they could find to press patterns into the surface. Each piece became its own little design.
It’s very important that children put a nice-sized hole in each piece – remind them that the holes get smaller in the kiln, so they want to be generous with them. I use wooden skewers for this.
Once the pieces were complete, they were set aside to dry fully.
I don’t always bisque fire clay before glazing—unless the pieces are especially fragile. For this project, I let them dry for about a week, then had students use Stroke & Coat glazes to paint their individual pieces.
After glazing, I fired everything in the kiln. Because the pieces were glazed on both sides, I used small stilts to lift them off the kiln shelf. It definitely took some extra time to load the kiln with all of those small pieces—but it was worth it. Firing just once made the process a bit simpler overall.
This is where the pieces really came to life.
Students chose bright, bold colors and carefully painted each section, often letting the texture guide their decisions.
And as always, they completely blew me away with their ideas.
Once everything was fired, students brought their pieces together.
Using wire and beads, they connected each section to create a hanging fish. We added a bead between each piece to create spacing and give the fish a sense of movement. A small bell was added at the bottom, and the top was looped so families can hang them up and enjoy them for years to come.
Each one turned out completely different—but equally full of personality.
And now, it’s one that will always carry a little piece of Mrs. Faltico with it, too.
The final fish make a beautiful display at an art show or at your school before they get sent home. I highly recommend displaying them and sharing them with your community if you can!
Here is a picture of ours on display at our Dive into Art show in 2026.
This post doesn’t feel complete without saying this:
Mrs. Faltico—thank you!
Thank you for the years you’ve spent creating, teaching, and sharing your ideas with students (and colleagues like me). Thank you for the lessons that have become traditions. The ones that quietly shape how we teach, year after year.
I feel lucky to have worked with you—and to carry this project forward. We all wish you well in retirement.
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Mrs. Faltico has also written a truly beautiful book, available on Amazon, dedicated to her daughter. It reflects her deep love for the desert—its colors, its quiet, and the way it holds meaning over time. It feels very much like her: thoughtful, warm, and full of heart. If you love the desert as we do, I think you’ll really enjoy it. You can see her book on Amazon HERE.
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