Rachel Hawver’s second graders at Lincoln School recently fashioned and carved jack-o'-lanterns out of clay at Newark High School and the following week painted them in their classroom _ all with kindly oversight and help from students in Kathryn Broach’s Ceramics 1 and Advanced Ceramics classes at NHS.
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First, Hawver’s students October 7th shaped and carved the insides out of the clay pumpkins at NHS and then carved faces and added stems.
“Very similar to carving real jack-o’-lanterns” Broach explained.
The clay creations were then left to dry in Broach’s classroom and later were bisque fired
Using tempera paint Oct. 17th, Lincoln students imaginatively painted their creations in their classroom with an assist from five of Broach’s students.
“The energy of the room was excitement as students saw their pumpkins and began to paint,” Hawver said. “The high school students moved around the room helping the second graders pick out colors and paint.”
Broach and Hawver watched, serving mostly as facilitators as the high school students instructed the second graders.
“We heard things like ‘this is so cool and so much fun,’” Hawver continued. “I’m really glad the high schoolers do this with us.’’
This is the fourth time since May 2024 that Hawver’s second graders at Lincoln and Broach’s NHS students have collaborated on holiday-related pottery projects.
Having previously teamed up when they both worked in the Clyde-Savannah School District before becoming employed as teachers in the Newark Central School District, both Hawver and Broach say these interactions provide a valuable and rewarding experience for both young and older students and builds community and positive relationships between them.
“The high school students enjoy working with the second graders, the energy in the room is always fun and joyful,” Broach said. “The older students always talk about the stories the younger students share and the creative ideas they have. The high schoolers take on mentor-like roles with the younger students and create positive memories for both groups.”
And best of all, the colorful pumpkins are going to the students’ homes in time for Halloween.