Homeschool Pottery Bookclub - Bring Classics to 3D Life - 4 Week Workshop!

Combine timeless novel's, pottery and integrative art to create unique hand-built 3D shadow box scenes bringing classics to life over 4 days

Join us each Friday during March for a magical 4-week pottery adventure, designed especially for homeschoolers! Kids dive into a chosen classic children's book (think The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Secret Garden, or similar timeless tales) while learning the joys of hand-built pottery, and creating a unique shadow box scene inspired by the book - bringing favourite moments, landscapes and characters to life in 3D with colour, texture, and imagination.

Each 2-hour session blends:

Storytime and mini-lessons on story elements, key themes, characters, and settings, hands-on pottery making, and plenty of creative freedom to design and craft a unique shadow box scene, a beautiful keepsake.

Hosted on our peaceful hobby farm in the Roleystone hills, children build real skills step-by-step, from basic hand-building techniques, to exploring glazes, colour, texture, decoration, and storytelling through clay.

This course isn't just art - it's intentional homeschool enrichment, literature appreciation, integravie learning, nature connection, fine motor development, and a beautiful portfolio-ready keepsake to treasure, with a whole lot of fun and friendship along the way.

What to Expect:

Our 4 week journey will flow like this -

🙌🏼 Day 1: Book intro and themes + basic hand-building foundations + create sculptural elements inspired by the book's characters.

🎨 Day 2: Story structure and setting (time and place) + shadow box base + colour theory + underglazing and decorating techniques.

🐾 Day 3: Character development + crafting additional elements using various mediums and natural materials found on the farm + make a mug or plate with a message from the story using advanced decorating techniques.

🏺Day 4: Finishing touches, painting and decorating + putting it all together + a celebration of everyone's one-of-a-kind creations.

🫶🏼 Each week enjoy social time, form new and nurture existing friendships, in the comfort of our newly renovated art studio space, surrounded by nature and farm life.

💫 By the end of the course, we hope to provide the kids with a magical month, with new skills, stories and handmade treasures.

Portfolio of Work

📓 Includes a portfolio of work with week by week highlights, mini lessons, learning outcomes and photos of their journey, all neatly displayed, to share with your family and moderator, and to keep forever.

Age Group:

Designed for homeschool children ages 7 - 12 year olds. Small groups to nurture focused, calm learning.

Dates:

Ticket applies for each Friday during March - 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th March 2026.

Pricing:

Price includes art instruction, all materials, clay, kiln firings and portfolio to display your projects. Homeschool rates have been applied for homeschool families at $35 per student per day, (total $140 for 4 weeks) paid upfront.

What to Bring:

Your beautiful selves, a water bottle, comfortable clothing and an apron if you don't want to get too messy (optional as clay washes out easily in the wash, however, other paints and glues will be used).

What you and your child need to do:

While we will go over key elements of the chosen book, to get the most enjoyment from the program, you and your child may like to read the book over the four weeks. Alternatively, if you're time poor or your child isn't at the required level of reading, you can listen to the audiobook or watch the film. I encourage families to do both as this creates a nice comparison between written and cinematic versions. Both books and copies of the film are usually available online, on Netflix, or you can borrow them from the library.

Parents or Guardians:

We're required to have a parent/guardian stay with us for the full session—it's a wonderful chance to get creative together, and enjoy the peaceful farm atmosphere!

A cozy workspace with Wi-Fi, tea, and coffee is available for you to relax, work, or simply soak it all in.

(We're busily working toward a drop-off option in the future.)

Younger or less experienced children may appreciate a bit of your gentle help, depending on their skills 😊

Meet Hayley – Your Host & Potter

Hayley is a homeschool mum and self-taught potter who fell in love with ceramics when her family traded city life for their family farm in the hills. They have homeschooled their daughter for 5 years, they tend their animals and edible gardens and create in their cozy pottery studio.

Hayley created these workshops especially for families like yours—slow, joyful, hands-on learning that connects families, kids to nature, builds real skills, and fills a beautiful portfolio with treasures and memories.

Holding a Bachelor of Arts in English Comminications & Media Studies, she has been teaching pottery for 6 years, and holds a current Working with Children card.

I'm so excited to share the magic of pottery, farm life, and creative play with you and your child this term! 😊 🌿Hayley x

Our House Guidelines (T&Cs):
We’re so thrilled you’re joining us for this special term of creativity and connection! To help everything run smoothly and safely for all our families, here are a few friendly reminders:

• Age & Homeschool Focus: This is a special homeschool-only gathering crafted just for children aged 7–12. We keep groups small and cozy to nurture focused, calm learning.
• Support for Individual Learning Needs: We truly cherish every child's unique way of exploring and creating, and we pour so much love into making each session joyful and accessible for our little homeschool community. That said, due to the cozy, small-group format, the hands-on nature of clay work, and my capacity as a one-teacher facilitator, we're not equipped to provide the specialised support or adaptations needed for children with learning difficulties, sensory sensitivities, or other additional learning needs. We want to set everyone up for the most peaceful and successful experience possible, so if your child thrives best with extra one-on-one guidance, modified pacing, or specific accommodations, this gathering might not be the ideal fit. We're always happy to chat beforehand if you'd like to share more about what would help your child shine brightest.
• Family Together Time: We love having parents or guardians stay for the full session—it creates such sweet bonding moments, lets you watch the magic unfold, and gives you a peaceful spot to relax on the farm. A comfy workspace with Wi-Fi, plus tea and coffee, is all set up for you to enjoy. (We’re working on a drop-off option for the future!) Younger or newer-to-clay kiddos might appreciate a little nearby help from you—no pressure, just teamwork and fun.
• Food & Allergen Awareness: Our farm is a natural, living space, so it may have traces of common allergens like nuts, eggs, dairy, or gluten. If anyone in your family has a bee allergy, we kindly suggest reconsidering, as we have beehives, the bees are happily buzzing around. Please let us know any specific concerns ahead of time—we want everyone to feel safe and cared for!
• Farm Animal Friends: Our free-ranging ducks, chickens, giant bunnies, baby emus (and occasional wildlife) are part of the charm! Please keep a gentle eye on your children around them—no chasing or picking up, so everyone (animals included) stays happy and safe.
• Pottery’s Little Surprises: Clay and kilns are wonderfully magical, but sometimes pieces experience a crack or break during firing—it’s a gentle lesson in impermanence, resilience, and the beauty of trying again. We take the utmost care handling and firing, but if a piece doesn’t make it through intact, we’re unable to offer refunds. Your child’s growth, creativity, and joy are what truly last forever!

By booking your spot, you’re embracing the spirit of our farm studio adventure, and understand these shared guidelines, warnings and limitations. By following these, you are helping us create a nurturing space for all.

We’re so grateful to share this term with you and your family and we can’t wait to get messy with you soon!