Werner, an unsuccessful Philadelphia ceramics shop owner, accepts an offer to work as a ceramics instructor at Camp Lakeside with hopes that the extra money will help him keep his shop.  On his first day with the boys at camp, Werner attempts to kill time by letting them browse. However, the group grows restless, and Werner decides to introduce the pottery wheel and explain its history.  Eventually, Werner gives them all their own pieces of clay to hand sculpt with. Lefty Schulberg, the camp's swimming instructor, blows his whistle to announce the end of pottery class and the beginning of the boys' swimming lessons. Once the boys leave, Werner takes note of the various objects they sculpted. Among them are pancakes and baseballs. However, Werner notices one of the boys sculpted a clay knight, though Werner does not know who.  The next time the group arrives, Werner observes the campers as they sculpt. He finds a boy sitting apart from the rest of the group while working on his clay and recognizes the boy as the one who created the clay knight. The boy reveals himself to be Aaron Gold. The whistle calls for swimming and the boys leave, except for Aaron who asks Werner if he is going to punish him for not playing with the other boys. Werner promises not to. That night, Mr. Steinberg, the boss, talks to Werner about Aaron’s late arrival to swimming. Additionally, Mr. Steinberg asks Werner to ensure the kids have a sculpture ready to show their parents on visiting day. The next time the group arrives, Aaron begins working on a better knight and asks to skip swimming. Werner notices Aaron's skill in sculpting and permits his prolonged stay in his class. That night, Mr. Steinberg chastises Werner for allowing Aaron to miss swimming. Determined to keep his job as the camp ceramics instructor to earn the money needed to continue his Philadephia shop, Werner resolves to do as Mr. Steinberg demands. The next time the boys arrive, Werner ensures that they all leave for swimming on time and clearly voices his desire for them to work quickly—especially Aaron. Aaron, however, stalls slightly after class to tell Werner he needs more time to work on his clay knights. Exasperated, Werner agrees to allow him extra time to work on his knight. Mr. Steinberg visits the shop again and expresses disappointment at Aaron's unfinished knight. Determined to have a finished product for visiting day and to please Mr. Steinberg, Werner finishes the knight. On visiting day, Aaron sneaks out of breakfast to visit the shop. Werner shows him the finished knight and Aaron becomes extremely upset, claiming that Werner ruined the knight. After Aaron leaves, Werner smashes the knight, packs his things, and leaves the camp.