OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia

There are so many things you can make with clay! Bowls and cups are some of the most common types of pottery. People also make plates, vases for flowers, teapots, and jars to store food. Some potters make decorative tiles that go on walls and floors. These tiles can have beautiful patterns and bright colors.

Potters also make sculptures and statues out of clay. Some pottery is made to be useful, like a mug you drink from every day. Other pottery is made just to look pretty, like a fancy vase sitting on a shelf. You can even try making pottery at home with air-dry clay. Roll the clay into a ball, push your thumb into the middle, and pinch the sides to make a little bowl. Let it dry and you have your very own pottery!

• The oldest pottery ever found is over 20,000 years old! It was discovered in China.
• In ancient times, people figured out they could make clay hard by putting it in a fire. This was a big discovery!
• The word “pottery” comes from an old word meaning “to push” because potters push and shape the clay.
• Japanese pottery called Raku is made by pulling hot pottery out of the kiln and letting it cool quickly in the open air.
• Some of the most famous pottery in the world comes from ancient Greece. Greek potters painted stories and pictures on their vases.
• You can recycle broken pottery pieces! Gardeners use them at the bottom of flower pots to help water drain out.