Linda Intro - Congrats on Excellence in Teaching Award!
Overview: Look at Clay Classroom Project Ideas
Adaptable / Grade Levels
Connect to CORE Curriculum & Visual Arts standards
Kits for HANDS-ON examples of projects
New Visual Arts Standards, launched in 2014:
4 Core Anchor Standards to identify Key concepts of Art Education
CREATING
PRESENTING
RESPONDING
CONNECTING
Customize handbook at NationalArtsStandards.org
About me!
Grew up in Beirut, Lebanon during the war
Personally had very little Arts education or even Sports
Missed a lot of school
Focused on Math, Science, Language, History, Geography; “essentials”
Later, Art provided an outlet for self-expression
Narrative Tile Murals
Autobiographical Tile work in grad school and afterwards
About TRAVEL, Transition, and Fragmentation of my Family
Worked at Pewabic Pottery
Learned a lot about Glazing and Tile-making
Now work at Amaco
TEACHing clay & glaze workshops
Degree not in Art Education, but 20+ years experience
Primarily teach PD training for Art Educators + Intensive summer classes
Develop Lesson Plans
With team of Clay Artists & Art Educators
Focus: Curriculum-based Project Sheets
Address National Arts Standards
And teach clay Techniques, Processes, & Surface Treatment
Tie into Core Curriculum
Cultural History, Science, (Math, Reading)
Address fundamentals of design and working with clay (Coil, Pinch, Slab)
Available ON-LINE at AmacoLessonPlans.com
Printable PDF’s
NEW WEBSITE where you can share lesson plans
How-To instructional videos
Hands-On: get clay out
Clay: Brown Stone Earthenware (# 29)
Wide firing range: Cone 05-5
Formulated for Cone 05 firing to look buff, like Stoneware
Great Science Project (HANDS-ON)
Recreate skeletal structure out of clay
More interactive by:
Bury skeleton for another class to excavate
The representation can be this elaborate, or…
Simplified: layout on sketch or printout
Research & sketches of the anatomy
Students can write a report, Extinct or Not?
Model & sculpt the vertebrae, skull & bones
Dinosaur Bones lesson teaches…
Science of Paleontology
History & Archaeology
Learning about proportion & how parts fit together
The Science of Astronomy
Complexity level is adaptable: Flat tiles vs sculpting in Relief
Advanced students: Proportion & Color may be Representational
Or the design could be Cartoon-like & more Graphic
Process
Use of Materials: Underglaze Applicator to block out shapes
Use Glaze to mimic stars, planets, meteorites and moons
Drawing Geometric & Celestial shapes
Composition, creating illusion of depth
Culture & Social Studies
Develop representational skills while learning about other cultural traditions
Expansion: make plates & serving dishes to represent the specific culture
Process (HANDS-ON)
Breakfast?
Modeling & sculpting the food – teaches Culinary skills
Clay can be painted with underglaze during construction process
Examples of Food originating from different cultures
Opportunity to Explore various Surface Treatment options
To Glaze or not to?
Glossy or Matte
“Room Temperature” glaze options
Depending on the desired surface quality of the form
Introduce the History of Majolica
Impact of trade routes on Ceramics
Developed by Middle Eastern potters to Imitate Chinese Porcelain
Covering red clay with Tin-based Opaque white glaze
On non-flowing surface
Painterly water-color effect
Incorporate Geometry into Design & Composition
Students learn about Angles & Degrees
As they create their own design templates
“Protractors” are used on flat OR circular forms
To center and design their composition
Teach children about managing Money
Inspired by Book: Townsley, Germain and Willy
Adaptable to various construction techniques & skill levels
Cup form & color could be reflective of its purpose
Pinch Pot version (HANDS-ON)
3 Equal Spheres of clay – make a simple pinch pot
Coiled foot
Scoring & slip or vinegar
Handles & Saucer
Thick Coil handle (or sculpted)
Saucer: Flat disk/slab
Add foot
Dry upside down or press over a form to raise the lip
Feet Variations
Coil
Flattened disk (patty)
Other?
Finished Cup Examples
Various pinch-pot skill levels
Reading, Math & Social Studies
Project teaches Carving & Printing
Carving designs 2 different ways:
Line carving to print color only
Relief carving to emboss texture
Undercuts & One-piece mold
Reversing Image
Eg of Repeating Patterns with Color Printing
Explore Radial Symmetry
Two techniques for multi-color printing:
Paint before stamping or
Create multiple stamps with Registration points
Teaching Art History and Cubism
Introductory approach to Portraiture
Transfer sketches/ cut-out silhouttes of facial features
Layering Textured slabs
Sculpting in relief
Selfies
Using 21st Century Skills as starting point for sketches
Camera’s front lens allows us to see our features from multiple angles
Figure & Portrait Sculpture
Also Non-representational approach
Caricature uses humor
Plus symbolism to represent
Chosen subject matter, eg. Mythology, Politics, Sports, etc…
Different Skill Levels
Complete figure versus Bust
Building hollow or Solid
Self-expression & personalization
Modeling the head (HANDS-ON)
Just some step-by-step “tips”
Head & Neck
Lines: Placement of Features
Teeth & Lips
Lip completion
Nose (pyramid)
Nostrils (use stylus tool or pencil)
Eye sockets (inset, not bulging)
Eyelids
Eyes & Pupils
Cheek-bones
Flattened Tear-Drops
Ears
Placement
Eyebrows – texture to attach
Hair is a SHAPE
Examples drying
Standing or Hanging/ Laying down
How to support or balance the figures
Newspaper armature – remove at leatherhard
Examples of projects from other teachers:
Vessels Inspired by Nature
Lesson Plan by Robin Johnson
Students research Botany & explore seed pod formations
Create personal interpretations as vessels
Artist’s Statements about how their forms relate to Nature
Personal Mythology
Lesson plan by Christina/Cat Traen, Rancho High School
Dynamic teacher, High-level of expectation & work
Student artwork & demo at Amaco booth
Using Sculptural symbolism to tell life stories
“Exquisite Creature”
Assignment examines concept such as “truth is stranger than fiction”
& “the extraordinary ordinary”
Sculpting Human Figure
Personal expression
(Activation of space)
In Conclusion
We are all passionate about clay and want to keep Ceramics in the classroom!
Utilize versatility of Clay to continue Adapting to the changing curriculum requirements
Keep in mind that the Standards are also in place to help inform policy makers about our art programs
Supporting K-12 Visual Art Education
Join the STEM versus STEAM movement (RISD website)
Science
Technolgy
Engineering
ART
Math
Teacher support websites like the Art of Education –
On-line conferences & workshops
Tips like organizing tools in clay classroom
National K12 Clay Foundation
Wonderful NCECA annual exhibition
College Scholarship opportunities for juried exhibition winners
FaceBook Groups
K-12 Clay Community
Low-Fire Glaze Exchange
Share and receive ideas & information
Technical Support
My contact info
THANK YOU
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