We do that. Use the disposable chopsticks rather than skewers, though. They come out of the paper sleeve with the pair joined and when you break them apart you get a squared-off butt end that is ideal for cunieform.
Linda
--- Original message ----
>Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2006 08:29:32 -0400
>From: "Judy Decker" <judy.decker@gmail.com>
>Subject: Re: [teacherartexchange] Sumerian art lesson
>To: "TeacherArtExchange Discussion Group" <teacherartexchange@lists.pub.getty.edu>
>
>Hi Marcia,
>
>I would give the social studies teacher some clay and some wood
>scratch sticks (skewers would work). Have the students write their
>names (or whatever) in cuneiform on a slab of clay - then fire it.
>They could put a hole (before firing) in it so it could be hung with
>some yarn (or worn as a pendant).
>http://www.wsu.edu:8001/~dee/GLOSSARY/CUNEI.HTM
>http://www.upennmuseum.com/cuneiform.cgi
>
>In your class, do a more involved lesson with clay.
>Here is a write up about ancient ceramics:
>http://www.ceramicstoday.com/articles/potters_wheel.htm
>http://www.sron.nl/~jheise/akkadian/prehistory.html#ceramic
>
>http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/02/wam/ht02wam.htm
>http://www.hp.uab.edu/image_archive/ue/uea.html
>http://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/kuwait/pots.htm
>
>I didn't find many examples online - but you will find some great
>effigy vessels if you search for ceramics from ancient Iran.
>http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu/specex/witwine/witwine.htm
>
>Here is a lesson I did for ancient middle east - 6th grade:
>http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/leann-copper.htm#East
>
>Students made cylinder seals to texture the borders. They could choose
>copper, brass or aluminum color for the foil tooling. Textures of the
>plates were accented with Rub 'n Buff. Glaze colors were limited to
>blues and earthen colors (Amaco textured glazes). Designs for the foil
>tooling were inspired by ancient middle east or Islamic motifs.
>
>One year, I had sixth grades do effigy vessels inspired by those from
>ancient Iran. I don't have digital pictures of those. They started
>with either a cone, a cylinder, or a balloon to get the main shape of
>the vessel. Cardboard and balloons were removed before firing.
>
>Another project I did was foil tooled boxes. I don't have photos of
>those either. Students used motifs of ancient middle east for
>inspiration. I made a template for them - they tooled the foil then
>scored and bent it over a cardboard box for support (I used black
>poster board for that).
>
>Regards,
>
>Judy Decker
>
>On 9/18/06, marcia wrote:
>>
>> Our social studies teacher wants me to come up with
>> an art activity/project that can complement their unit
>> on Sumerian culture. I have a lot of websites and
>> books about Sumerian art, but I'm having a little bit
>> of trouble coming up with an actual project. This is
>> for 5th grade level. Can anyone tell me about a
>> project they have done or give me an idea to start
>> with? Marcia Beckett, in Wisconsin.
>
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