Fourth grade students have embarked on an art lesson involving clay and music. Along with teacher Meghan McCarthy, they learned about the long history of the ancient instrument known as the ocarina. They studied ocarinas from all over the world, starting in Central and South America, to China, Europe and North America.

After constructing the form, they then worked together on making the whistle. They were able to create multiple sounds by piercing the ocarina to create a high or low pitch.

“Students were influenced by particular ocarina forms and surface designs from the different cultures we studied,” Mrs. McCarthy said. “They had fun experimenting with the ocarinas and even making some into animals, characters or just beautiful abstract forms.”