What is clay?

Clay is like a special kind of dirt that can be shaped and made into things like pots and bricks.

Imagine you're playing with playdough, when you squish it in your hands, it changes shape easily, and when you put it in the oven, it hardens. That's kind of what clay does, but in real life!

If you dig around in a garden or a muddy puddle, you might find clay, it feels slippery and sticky, like wet mud that doesn’t want to let go of your fingers. But if you leave it out in the sun, it dries up and gets hard, just like a dried-up sponge.

People use clay to make things like cups, plates, and even buildings. When they heat it up in a kiln, it becomes strong and stays the shape you gave it, kind of like how your cookie turns into a permanent shape when it bakes!

Clay is everywhere, hiding under our feet, waiting for someone to bring it to life.