Clay Aztec Art for Kids

I love incorporating various subjects together! It allows us to better immerse in the subject, gain a better understanding of the subject matter, and allows us to minimize busy work and leave more time for play! So as studied early explorers and early civilizations we decided to learn more about the Aztecs by making this fun Clay Aztec art. This  fun clay art ideas is perfect for preschool, pre k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade students.

Clay Aztec Art

Learn more about the ancient Aztec civilization that who were a warrior tribe that lived in Mexico in the 1300s with this fun hands-on Aztec activities for kids. We love lots of clay art ideas for you to explore clay Aztec Art with your kindergartens, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, and grade 6 students.

In history we have been talking about early explorers for kids – the Conquistadors and their relationship/impact on the native Aztecs (they conquered and wiped them out). We learned a lot & had a LOT of fun – see my Early Explorers post for more on that.  So we decided to create art like the Aztecs did. They aren’t exactly a Famous Artist like the others we’ve studied, but they definitely had a lot of beautiful, unique art in their culture.  PLUS this gave us a chance to explore art made with clay!

Clay Art Ideas

We kneaded the clay a couple minutes until it was ready to roll into ropes.

Then using the Aztec technique we wrapped the rope around like a cinnamon roll. Once we had the cinnamon roll base we continued using pieces of rope to stack up on the sides.

Next we smoothed out the sides making sure there were no gaps between layers of rope.

Aztec Art for Kids

Then we added decorations to the pot. We added monkey (typical for Aztec pots) and a bear (my kiddos favorite animal). We made the pieces and then pressed them on the pot.

After allowing the pots to dry completely (48+ hours) we painted the outside black with acrylic paint.

Here is our finished product and what an Aztec finished product looked like.

 

Aztec Sun for Kids

I’m sure you’ve seen it in a museum at some point. Clay suns are still made in Mexico in a place called Metepec by the Nahua Indians, who are descendants of the Aztecs
Again we kneaded the clay slightly and then divided the dough into 3 parts (each a little smaller than the pile before). Out of the biggest pile we made a circle that was tallest in the middle.

Then out the middle pile we divided it into 8 equal parts and made triangles. We pressed it carefully around the circle. Then we used a pencil to create the lines on the triangles.

Finally we took the smallest pile and rolled it into a thin rope. We created the facial features you see below and carefully pressed them on the sun. We allowed it to air dry 24-48 hours and TADA!

Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica

Learning about ancient civilizations? We have lots of resources to teach kids about the Inca tribe, Aztec Civilization, and Mayan Empire!

• Inca Coloring Pages for Kids
• Inca Worksheets – cute notebooking pages to take notes or present reports
• Inca Facts in a reader to read, color, and learn!
• Inca Civilization Pennants for a report or unit on Ancient Civilizations of MesoAmerica
• Aztecs for Kids Reader to read, color, and learn
• Free Aztec Worksheets to record what you’ve learned
• Printable Pennants Aztec Activity for Kids
• Aztec Coloring Pages
• Mayan Empire Notebooking pages
• Who were the mayans pennants (make a fun book report)
• Maya Coloring Pages
• Who Were the Ancient Maya People Readers to Read, Color & Learn

History Lessons for Kids

Check out one of or MANY engaging, Free history lessons for kids

• Explore American History for kids including lots of fun, hands on activities and free printables
• Dive into Mesopotamia History to learn about Gilgamesh
• 4 week lesson about Early Explorers for Kids
• Learn about castles, knights, and more in this exciting Middle Ages for Kids
• Make a teepee, dig for arrowheads, color our printable books and more in this Native Americans for Kids lessons
• The Colonial America for Kids lesson takes kids on a journey back to the first permanent settlement in America – Jamestown. Students will learn about colonial life with lots of hands on projects like eating Gruel, making a Wattle & Daub house, and creating a tin lantern will make the settlement come alive.
• We will make westward expansion for kids come alive for kids as they learn facts about the time period from about 1783-1898. In addition to learning about the Oregon trail, pony express, gold rush, transcontinental railroad, students will also learn to match animal trails, map the united states, and learn about North American animals too.
• Civil War for Kids – students will learn about slavery, famous Americans from the Civil War, famous battles, and how our nation stayed together. Lesson includes printable worksheets, mapping activities, printable civil war board game and more!
• Learn about US States for Kids – state coloring pages, president coloring pages, state report forms, states and capital printables, and so much more!
• Pennant History Posters to see US History At-a-Glance
• Learn about the Roaring 1920s for Kids – Printable Book to Read, Color, and Learn
• Rosa Parks for Kids Printable Reader to Color and Learn
• Martin Luther King Jr for Kids Printable Reader to Color and Learn
• Titanic for Kids Reader to Color and Learn
• Learn about the Roaring 1920s for Kids – Printable Book to Read, Color, and Learn
• 1930s for Kids – Printable Book about the Golden age of Hollywood, Great Depression for Kids and more to read, color, and learn
• Life in the 1940s America for Kids Reader
• Anne Frank for Kids Printable Reader to read, color, and learn about this Jewish girl who lived behind the wall in Holland during World War 2
• 1950s for Kids Reader to Color, Learn and read about what life was like in America in 1950
• Life in the 1960s for Kids Printable book to read, color and learn about life in the 1960s
• Learn about platform shoes, disco, the beginning of Star Wars and more with this 1970s for kids Reader
• 1980s for kids Reader to read, color, and learn!
• 1990s for Kids Printable Reader filled with information about fashion, technology, Presidents, and more!
• Learn about life for early 2000s Kids with these american history printables to read, color, and learn!
• Review what you’ve leanred with these American History Worksheets (Notebooking)

Looking for more fun, creative ways you can begin homeschooling for free? We have over 1,000,000 pages of FREE pre k worksheets, kindergarten worksheets, grade 1 worksheets, second grade worksheets and more for K12. Plus see our history lesson plans, free math games, english worksheets, sight words activities, alphabet worksheets, and cvc word games for kids of all ages!