Earth Play. Making Dorodangos!

The Lapis learners were making mud balls while they were playing at park. This child-directed play turned into a conversation about art that comes from the earth. From there, they began learning about Dorodangos!

Dorodango (Japanese: 泥だんご, lit. "mud dumpling") is a Japanese art form in which earth and water are combined and molded, then carefully polished to create a delicate shiny sphere resembling a billiard ball.

The Lapis students were asked, “What do you enjoy about making Dorodangos?”

Margot: I like the shape because it’s an orb and a sphere is my favorite shape.
Sylvie: I like finding the sand and adding the sand to my ball.
Kian: I like shaping them because it’s fun. It makes me feel happy and excited.
Isaac: I like that they are connected to “mamas” (small mud balls they made in the redwoods). I like polishing them with the jar. 
Miles: I like putting on the “mama powder” (sand/dust powder) on the ball. I like mining the mud.
Nirvan: I like the polishing. I like the sound of it.
Amara: You’re making mud and it’s turning into a ball, almost like a toy.
Lukas: Making it into a ball. I normally make them small and then add the layers.
Elia: It makes me feel connected to the redwood forest. I like the making and the polishing. I like the sound. I’ve tried different methods in making a sphere. 
Penny: I liked polishing. I also liked finding the clay. I like the sound when I turn it.