This document outlines a pinch unit for a ceramics class. Students will learn pinch techniques to create bowls and apply slip and scoring. They will design a functional musical instrument from organic material and apply low-fire glazes. The unit aligns with state standards on visual art concepts and focuses on craftsmanship and creating noise-making forms. Key ceramic terms like clay, slip, scoring and shrinkage are defined.

1. *Pinch Unit:
Area of Interaction(s): Environment/Approaches to Learning
Guiding Questions: Knowledge and Understanding (Criterion A)
What was “art” in ancient societies?
Scholastic Arts Magazine
In what ways is environment and culture of the artist revealed in the artwork?
View and know about Anasazi, and Pre-Columbian pottery, environment and
society.
Unit Objectives: Know and Understand Earthenware clay, low-fire
glaze and electric firing.
Learn and Practice the Pinch technique by creating several
pinch bowls.
Apply Slip and Score techniques of attaching clay.
Know and apply painted and “incised” surface designs.
Create a functional musical instrument out of an organic
material.
Learn and Apply- Surface Treatment using Low fire Glazes,
Electric Firing Techniques.

2. Colorado VA Standards
Observe & Learn to Comprehend
GLE 1.1. Visual art has inherent characteristics and
expressive features
GLE 1.3- Art and design have purpose and function
Envision & Critique to Reflect
GLE 2.1. Reflective strategies are used to understand the
creative process
Invent & Discover to Create
GLE 3.2. Assess and produce art with various materials and
methods

3. Project Criteria:
Create a creative form, animal, object, that whistles, rattles,
(makes noise).
Complete with quality craftsmanship,
No cracking or breaking
Slipped and scored well.
Quality glazing, colorful and color applied with little raw clay
showing

28. Ceramic I Vocabulary
Write definition and/or draw picture reference (if applicable)
Clay-
Score-
to scratch the clay surface in the areas where 2 pieces will be joined
Slip-
watered down clay
Wedging-
The kneading like action done to clay before starting work
Shrinkagestarted.
Most clay has 8-13% when drying that makes the work smaller then when it was
Grog-
Ground fired clay mixed into wet clay and helps reduce shrinkage and strengthen.
Plasticity-
Maximum bend ability in clay
Construction Techniques
Hand-building:
Pinch- The hand building technique using just the fingers to shape