A friend of mine lost all of her files....I thought this would be a fun way
to rebuild--to have a new "thread" to consider each week end. I had SO much
fun collecting printmaking ideas a couple weeks ago.
Please post the grade level the idea was taught and a brief description.
Anyone who wants more details can request them. This will also help new
teachers come up with ideas (and some of us old fogies too). Tried and true.
I will start (DO feel free to elaborate on any of the ideas I posted--these
were just to get the thread going):
2nd grade (shape one day....take one class period later to glaze):
Pocket pots - roll out long oblong slab-- press in textures on bottom half--
have lots of gadgets ready, plus lace and other textured items. Turn
textured slab over-- fold up over a card board roll (roll gets removed--it
is just used for support). Score and slip sides of pocket. Press textures in
top of pocket -- put hole for hanging. Write name on back with dull pointed
tool.
2nd Grade (two to three class periods to form ---one later to glaze):
Bird bells. Roll out slab of clay ---cut semi circular shape out. Drape slab
over card board cone that has been covered with a layer of newspaper (I had
lots of the cones from yarn). Make pinch pot head -- fuse onto top of cone
(make sure there is also a hole in top of clay cone). Add beak--
wings --tail. Make clay clapper --put hole in clapper and hole in top of
head (hole should go through to inside of bell). After firing --string
clapper and hanging cord (using knots to keep cord fro sliding out) I used
jute.
3rd-6th (one class period for simple suns --up to five class periods for
more elaborate)
Clay suns --this can be a cultural lesson as well. Drape slab over a
paper/Styrofoam bowl (or over a plaster hump). Add facial features. Paint
with acrylics --or glaze.
5th - 7th grade (4 to 10 class periods --depending on details)
Clay masks. Make newspaper hump. Drape slab over newspaper. Score and slip
to add features. Present this as a cultural lesson.
6th (four to ten class periods--depending on details)
Clay mugs --with gargoyles. The gargoyles take a functional form as a
handle --or decorative. This introduces the students to sculptural ceramics
that is also functional.
5th grade on up
Effigy vessels (Pueblo-- Mound builder inspired --or Iranian --or
pre-Columbian)
3rd-7th (two to ten class periods)
Clay fish. Either as one sided --draped over a newspaper hump. Two drape
molded sides put together for older students.
7th story tellers
Native American (Pueblo) inspired or pre-Columbian
8th-12th (eight to ten class periods --can be more depending on details
African inspired portrait vessels (coil method and pressed coil) or "spirit
boxes" (slab method with molded face)
4th thru 12th (two class periods and more)
Pressed coil. Rolled up coils formed inside a bowl shape (or other shape).
Smooth on the inside to fuse coils together. rolled up coils show when the
piece is removed from the mold.
NOTE: I do not have any elementary lesson plans or high school lesson plans
on computer files for ceramics--only middle school.
