The document provides instructions for an activity where students will learn about Chinese porcelain designs by drawing their own blue-and-white designs on paper plates and bowls. Students will first review online resources on Chinese porcelain motifs. They will then draw designs, which can include drawing stencils or freehand, using Crayola markers and bamboo calligraphy brushes. The goal is for students to appreciate significant motifs from Chinese porcelain and create balanced designs incorporating motifs, borders, and use of color and white space.

2. -Various sizes of paper Chinet
classic white dinner plates and
bowls
- Non-toxic blue Crayola markers
(red can also be used)
- Bamboo calligraphy brushes
- Water
- Construction paper (if stencils
will be designed and used)
- Scissors (if stencils will be
designed and used

3. Begin by having the students
review China Institute‟s online
resource collection “China‟s
„China‟: Porcelain‟s Contribution to
World History and Culture”
(available at
www.China360online.org)
Then, have the teacher explain that
students will be drawing their own
blue-and-white (or red) designs
onto a plate and/or bowl to get an
appreciation of what is significant
about various motifs on Chinese
porcelains.

4. Students should then review various motifs online
at:
-The National Palace Museum site “New Era of
Ornamentation: 1350-1521”
(http://www.npm.gov.tw/exh95/ming/exhibition_en/e
n.html)
-The Metropolitan Museum of Art‟s online thematic
essay “East and West: Chinese Export Porcelain”
(http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ewpor/hd_ewp
or.htm)
-Alternatively, teachers could print out examples for
students to refer to as they draw their own copy.

5. -Then, the teacher should distribute the paper plates,
bowls, and the Crayola marker.
-The class can opt to first draw a stencil version of
motifs (i.e. a bat) or chose to draw free hand.
-Students should also have access to bamboo
calligraphy brushes and a cup of water in order to
wash the blue ink into the plate/bowl to create a
more textured approach.
-Students should be encouraged to think about
-The dominant motif (or motifs) in their design
-The symmetrical border designs
-How to balance the use of color while still
retaining the field of white in the back-ground