Ceramic Pencil Holders

If you were handed a half pound of clay and asked to make a pencil holder could you do it?  Fifth grade students were posed that challenge and exceeded many expectations!  

The question surrounding this project was, "How could you create a creature or simple composition that could balance a pencil (or toothbrush) using at least 2 appendages?  The extensions could be anything imaginable; flower petals, arms, pylons, tentacles, etc."  Needless to say, monsters, insects, animals, and many imaginative inanimate objects were created! They are currently on display in the lobby.