From Clay to Community: Building Our Own Skara Brae Village

This week in Elder Class, we became artists, designers, and historians all at once as we worked on our amazing clay project inspired by Skara Brae.

We started by learning how to create surface patterns and textures using clay. We used lots of different tools to press, carve, and mark our clay. We thought carefully about how to show features like roofs, walls, windows, and doors. Some of us made smooth patterns, while others created rough stone-like textures to make our houses look more realistic.

It was really fun experimenting and seeing how small changes could make a big difference to our designs.

Designing from Observation

Next, we focused on making 3D models by carefully observing real buildings. We studied aerial photographs of Skara Brae and used them to help us design our own Stone Age houses.

We looked closely at the shapes of the buildings, where the entrances were, and how everything fitted together from above. This linked really well to our previous learning about 3D drawing and perspective.

We tried hard to make sure our models matched what we could see in the photos, thinking like real architects and historians.

Inspired by Nature and Art

We also learned about how Chris Gee uses natural materials in his artwork. This inspired us to do the same.

We went on a short nature walk around school and collected small stones, twigs, and leaves. It felt like going on a mini adventure! We then used these materials in our clay models to add extra texture and detail.

Adding real natural objects helped our houses look even more authentic and connected to the Stone Age.

Creating Our Stone Age Houses

By the end of the first part of the project, we had moulded our clay into detailed Stone Age houses. We carefully carved patterns and added natural materials to make our models look realistic and strong, just like the real homes at Skara Brae.

Everyone took pride in their work, and it was brilliant to see how different each house looked, even though we were all working from the same images.

Building Our Skara Brae Settlement

In our final lesson, we used our clay moulds to create our finished dwellings. We added even more detail, carving roofs, windows, and doorways with great care. We kept checking the photographs and images to help us make sensible choices about shape, pattern, and texture.

Once our individual houses were complete, we worked together to put them all into one big settlement. This helped us understand how a village is formed and how buildings fit together.

It was exciting to see our separate pieces come together into one shared model.

Our Finished Village

By the end of the project, we had created a detailed and collaborative model village inspired by the real Skara Brae settlement. We were so proud of what we had achieved together.

We learned how to use 3D form, texture, and natural materials, and we also learned how important teamwork is when creating something special.

A big thank you to all the adults for helping us with this brilliant project. We felt like real artists and historians, and we can’t wait for our next creative adventure!