KIDS POTTERY CLASSES
Real clay, real techniques.
Hickory Clay offers pottery classes for children and teens in San Francisco's Mission District. Our classes treat young students as the makers they are — they leave with finished, fired work and a real understanding of what they made. Parents are welcome to stay; some classes require it.
“Monique had such a good presence with kids. My daughter is usually so shy with people she’s just met, but she was telling me how happy she was to give her teacher a hug at the end. ”
MOMMY & ME
Ages 3-6 with a caregiver · Saturdays at 10am · $70 per pair · 2 hours
Our Mommy & Me pottery classes for pre-school and kindergarten-age children aretaught by Monique. These run one Saturday per month at 10am and are booked individually.
Children create pinch pots that become a pair of animals: bunnies, bears, owls, whatever their imagination conjures. Then they’ll create a larger pinch pot that’s a “cave” for the animals to live in. Parents work alongside their kids; no experience needed. As we finish, we gently push the animals together so they meld into one another, just like a parent and child. We glaze and fire every piece. $70 for one adult and one child.
Saturday, June 6 · 10am–noon
Saturday, June 27 · 10am–noon
KIDS SLAB STUDIO
Ages 5–11 · Sundays at 10am · 90 minutes · $50 per child
A single-session class introducing elementary-age kids to clay construction and pattern design. Students use pre-cut clay shapes to compose a pattern on a pre-rolled slab, then roll the pattern into the clay and press-form the slab into a finished bowl or plate.
It's a real technique — the same approach professional ceramic artists use to build pattern into clay rather than paint it on. Kids leave with one finished piece that we glaze and fire for pickup in 4 weeks.
Parents may stay or drop off, your call. Best for kids who can focus for 90 minutes and don't mind getting their hands dirty.
Ages 5–11 · Sundays at 10am · 90 minutes · $45 per child
A single-session class introducing elementary-age kids to clay construction and pattern design. Students use pre-cut clay shapes to compose a pattern on a pre-rolled slab, then roll the pattern into the clay and press-form the slab into a finished bowl or plate.
It's a real technique — the same approach professional ceramic artists use to build pattern into clay rather than paint it on. Kids leave with one finished piece that we glaze and fire for pickup in 4 weeks.
Parents may stay or drop off, your call. Best for kids who can focus for 90 minutes and don't mind getting their hands dirty.
INTRO TO NERIKOMI FOR TEENS
Ages 12+ · Sundays at 10am · 90 minutes · 2 session series · $100 total
Nerikomi is a Japanese pottery technique that builds pattern directly into clay using stacked, sliced, and reassembled blocks of colored clay. It's intricate, slow, and visually striking — and rarely taught to teens anywhere.
Over the series, students will design their own simple pattern structures (stripes, checkers, geometric blocks), build them into nerikomi blocks, slice and reveal the patterns, and use the resulting pieces to handbuild a finished work of their choice. We glaze and fire every piece for pickup 4 weeks after the final session.
For students with some craft experience and the patience for detailed work. A great fit for art-inclined teens who've outgrown standard craft classes.
Ages 12+ · Sundays at 10am · 90 minutes · 2 session series · $100 total
Nerikomi is a Japanese pottery technique that builds pattern directly into clay using stacked, sliced, and reassembled blocks of colored clay. It's intricate, slow, and visually striking — and rarely taught to teens anywhere.
Over the series, students will design their own simple pattern structures (stripes, checkers, geometric blocks), build them into nerikomi blocks, slice and reveal the patterns, and use the resulting pieces to handbuild a finished work of their choice. We glaze and fire every piece for pickup 4 weeks after the final session.
For students with some craft experience and the patience for detailed work. A great fit for art-inclined teens who've outgrown standard craft classes.
SATURDAY - INTRO TO THE POTTERY WHEEL
Ages 13+ · Saturdays at 10:30am · 4 weeks · $250
For teens ready to take a serious pottery class alongside adults. Taught by Theresa, this is our standard 4-week beginner wheel throwing class — open to ages 13 and up. Teens learn the same fundamentals as adult students: preparing clay, centering, throwing, trimming, and glazing.
This is a real wheel class, not a kids class. Teens who enroll will be working with adult students at the same wheels, learning the same curriculum, at the same pace. It's an excellent fit for mature 13-17 year olds with creative interest.
4-week class curriculum : Week 1: Throwing, Week 2: Throwing, Week 3: Trimming, Week 4: Glazing
Saturdays at 10:30am for 4 weeks for $250 taught by Theresa. June 6, 13, 20, 27.
Wheel throwing classes teach the basics of making pieces on the potter’s wheel. Beginning students learn to prepare the clay, center, throw, and trim. After the pieces are fired, all students are taught how to glaze their pieces. Classes are capped at 11 students for high student/teacher interaction.
KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTIES
Ages 4+ · 8-10 children · $60 per child
Host your child's birthday at the studio. We provide the clay, tools, aprons, and instruction; you bring the food, cake, and crew.
Ages 4-9: 90-minute party
Ages 10+: 2-hour party
Kids learn basic handbuilding, coiling, and surface texture techniques while making their own piece — cups, planters, or small vases depending on what works for the group. We glaze and fire every piece for pickup 4 weeks after the party.
The booking parent(s) must stay for the duration. Other parents can drop off and pick up. Families are welcome to bring food and cake.
We recommend booking at least two weeks in advance. Email kaitlyn@hickoryclay.com with your preferred date, child's age, and group size to get started.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Kids should wear closed-toe shoes and clothes they don't mind getting clay on. Long hair tied back. Aprons are provided.
Pieces are glazed, fired, and ready for pickup approximately 4 weeks after class. We'll email when work is ready. Pickup is in person at the studio during open hours.
Questions? Email kaitlyn@hickoryclay.com.
Looking for Multi-Week Classes, Team Events, or Workshops?