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Throw a pot on a wheel

Throw a pot on a wheel
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Make a small clay pot on a pottery wheel, learning to center, shape, and smooth the clay with adult supervision and simple tools.

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Step-by-step guide to throw a pot on a wheel

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How to make a clay teapot - Ceramic teapot making on the wheel (15 minutes demo)

What you need
Adult supervision required, apron, ball of potter's clay (tennis-ball to grapefruit size), needle tool or toothpick, pottery wheel, small bowl or bucket of water, sponge, towel, wire cutter or strong piece of string, wooden rib or plastic smoothing tool

Step 1

Put on your apron so your clothes stay clean.

Step 2

Wedge the clay by kneading it until it feels smooth and has no air bubbles.

Step 3

Press the wedged clay firmly onto the center of the wheel head so it sticks.

Step 4

Turn the wheel on to a low steady speed.

Step 5

Wet your hands and the clay lightly with the sponge.

Step 6

Center the clay by holding steady pressure with both hands until it spins without wobbling.

Step 7

Press your thumbs down into the center to make an opening for the pot.

Step 8

Pull up the clay walls gently to make them taller and shape the pot.

Step 9

Smooth and refine the pot's shape by running the wooden rib over the outside and inside.

Step 10

Use the needle tool to tidy the rim and check the wall thickness at the top.

Step 11

Clean up and even the base by trimming away extra clay with a small tool.

Step 12

Cut the pot from the wheel head using the wire cutter or string.

Step 13

Lift your pot gently and place it on a towel in a safe spot to dry.

Step 14

Share a photo of your finished pot and what you learned on DIY.org.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can I use if I don't have a wooden rib, needle tool, or wire cutter?

Use a flexible plastic spatula or old credit card in place of the wooden rib, a knitting needle or skewer instead of the needle tool, and strong fishing line or a thin wire as an alternative to the wire cutter to cut the pot from the wheel head.

Why does my clay wobble when I try to center it and how can I fix it?

If the clay wobbles, stop the wheel, re-press the wedged clay firmly onto the center of the wheel head, then re-center by holding steady two-handed pressure with your hands and a lightly wet sponge while running the wheel at a low steady speed.

How can I adapt this wheel-throwing activity for different age groups?

For younger children, pre-center small balls of wedged clay, keep the wheel speed very low and guide their hands during 'press your thumbs down' and 'pull up the clay walls', while older kids can work at higher speeds, pull taller walls, refine shapes with the wooden rib and needle tool, and trim the base themselves.

What are simple ways to enhance or personalize my finished pot?

After smoothing with the wooden rib and tidying the rim with the needle tool, carve patterns before trimming the base, add colored slip or attach a handle after cutting the pot from the wheel head, then place it on the towel to dry and photograph it to share on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to throw a pot on a wheel

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

How to Make Pottery | Kids Pottery Term Lesson

4 Videos

Facts about pottery and ceramics for kids

👐 Centering clay is often the trickiest part for beginners and can take several minutes of steady pressure and practice to master.

🌍 Fired pottery survives for millennia, which is why pottery shards are among the most common artifacts archaeologists find.

🔥 Kilns fire pottery at very high temperatures — many clays and glazes need about 1,000–1,300°C (1,832–2,372°F) to fully mature.

🧱 Potters commonly work with three main clay types: earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain — each feels and fires differently.

🎡 The potter's wheel has been used for thousands of years — archaeological evidence places early wheels in Mesopotamia around 3000 BCE.

How do I teach my child to throw a small pot on a pottery wheel?

To throw a small pot, start by wedging a small chunk of clay to remove air. Center the clay on a clean splash pan and wet your hands. Press down and inward until the clay spins evenly. Open the center with your thumbs, then pull up the walls by squeezing and lifting slowly while keeping a steady, wet surface. Shape with a rib tool, trim the base with a wire cutter, and smooth with a sponge. Always supervise children and work at low wheel speed.

What materials and tools do I need to make a small clay pot on a wheel?

You'll need a small block of potter's clay, a child-friendly pottery wheel or adjustable-speed wheel, a water bucket, sponge, wooden modeling tools, a metal or plastic rib, wire clay cutter, trimming tool, apron, towel, and an old table or mat to protect surfaces. Access to a kiln or a plan for air-dry clay is important if you want fired pottery. Optional: kiln gloves, a spray bottle, and safety goggles when trimming or sanding.

What ages is throwing a pot on a wheel suitable for?

This activity suits children roughly 6 years and up with close adult supervision and a low-speed wheel. Ages 6–8 benefit from guided, two-person instruction; 9–12 can try simple shapes more independently; teens 13+ can learn more advanced centering and pulling techniques. Younger children (under 6) usually lack the core stability and fine motor control for safe, successful wheel throwing. Always match tasks to each child's attention and strength.

What safety tips should I follow when a child uses a pottery wheel?

Safety tips: always supervise closely, use a low-speed wheel, and secure long hair and loose clothing. Teach children to keep fingers together, keep their hands wet, and to step away if clay sticks. Keep the workspace clean and dry to avoid slips. Do not allow kids near the kiln — only adults should fire and glaze. Consider air-dry clay for young children and use dust masks when sanding dry clay.
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