We always start the trimester with clay because it takes a few weeks to dry out before we can fire it in the kiln. After we fire it, then we have to glaze it which takes another week and then we have to fire it again. For the sake of time, we get clay done first so that we don't run out of time at the end of the trimester.
Kindergarten- Our first project was clay pinch pots. I demonstrated how to make a pinch pot. The students learned about clay and where it comes from. They got to take a peek inside the kiln and learn about how hot it gets when it fires the clay. After that project, the students learned about texture and how there are different kinds of texture. We did an activity where they feel things around the room and describe what it feels like. They then made a clay hand and created different kinds of texture on the hand by using tools.
1st Grade- Our first project was making clay monster pinch pots building off of the knowledge of how to make pinch pots last year. The kids watched a demo on how to score and slip. I referred to scoring as the velcro and slip as the glue. I then showed them how to seal with a coil or with their fingers to make sure their clay is really stuck on their work. After they learned how to score and slip, I showed them all sorts of pictures of monsters so that they could get ideas for their work. They could make their clay monsters look however they wanted to. We reviewed where clay comes from and what happens when it gets fired in the kiln.
2nd Grade- The students are creating clay self-portraits. We started this lesson by reading two different books. One was I am Gonna Like Me, which is a book about learning to love yourself and all of your strengths and weaknesses. The other book was called The Colors of Us, which is a book about how we are all different colors and we are all beautiful. I demonstrated how to draw a self-portrait by using a mirror. We reviewed the difference between sketch lines and drawing lines. Sketch lines are easy to erase. I then had them sketch themselves using mirrors. The next time they came to class I reviewed how to score and slip and showed them how to add facial features to clay. They have the option of creating an expression on their faces like having their tongue sticking out or their eye winking. They have begun working on their pieces and will finish them today.
3rd Grade- The students are making soul shakers out of clay. They started this lesson by learning about the history of clay rattles. They then had to sketch out ideas for their project. The requirement was that they had to create a design for their soul shakers that personally reflects an interest or something that is unique to them. We discussed what creative ideas are and how they sometimes really need to think about their ideas and how to make them different before they move forward with their projects. We then walked through the process of how to make a clay soul shaker. Now they personalizing their soul shakers.
4th Grade- In fourth grade the students are creating their favorite places out of clay. We discussed and wrote down how different places make us feel and what kinds of things are in these places that makes us like them so much. They were then required to sketch one of their favorite places as an idea for their project. We reviewed how if the clay is thicker than your thumb that it needs to be hollowed out with a hole or it will blow up in the kiln. The reason for this is that there are air bubbles in the clay and when the clay shrinks in the kiln the air bubbles have no where to go, but out. If the students hollow things out and put a hole in it then the chances of there being air bubbles are pretty small. I showed them how to hollow things out, how to use slabs to create walls of buildings or other structures, how to use pinch pots to create structures, how to reinforce with coils, how to use to tools to create texture, and I reviewed how to score and slip. The students are currently working on their projects.
5th Grade- In 5th grade the students are working with clay too. They learned about the history of clay coil pots through a visual presentation. I showed them a variety of ways that they can make their coil pots unique by using different techniques such as adding faces or animals to their pots, making braids, spheres, and spirals. I showed them examples of how to add texture to their work or how to draw on the outside of their pieces. They also have the option of adding words or quotes using alphabet pasta that burns up in the kiln. I showed them how to build up the coil walls of their pots in such a fashion that their work does not collapse. I demonstrated how to bring the walls out or bring the walls in with the coils. The students created three different sketches for their pots and after a demonstration, they were ready to create their own works. The only requirements is that their pots have to be at least ten inches high and that they have to be waterproof by sealing the inside and glazing them. At the end of this project, we will have a celebration and eat and drink out of the pots.
Kindergarten- Our first project was clay pinch pots. I demonstrated how to make a pinch pot. The students learned about clay and where it comes from. They got to take a peek inside the kiln and learn about how hot it gets when it fires the clay. After that project, the students learned about texture and how there are different kinds of texture. We did an activity where they feel things around the room and describe what it feels like. They then made a clay hand and created different kinds of texture on the hand by using tools.
1st Grade- Our first project was making clay monster pinch pots building off of the knowledge of how to make pinch pots last year. The kids watched a demo on how to score and slip. I referred to scoring as the velcro and slip as the glue. I then showed them how to seal with a coil or with their fingers to make sure their clay is really stuck on their work. After they learned how to score and slip, I showed them all sorts of pictures of monsters so that they could get ideas for their work. They could make their clay monsters look however they wanted to. We reviewed where clay comes from and what happens when it gets fired in the kiln.
2nd Grade- The students are creating clay self-portraits. We started this lesson by reading two different books. One was I am Gonna Like Me, which is a book about learning to love yourself and all of your strengths and weaknesses. The other book was called The Colors of Us, which is a book about how we are all different colors and we are all beautiful. I demonstrated how to draw a self-portrait by using a mirror. We reviewed the difference between sketch lines and drawing lines. Sketch lines are easy to erase. I then had them sketch themselves using mirrors. The next time they came to class I reviewed how to score and slip and showed them how to add facial features to clay. They have the option of creating an expression on their faces like having their tongue sticking out or their eye winking. They have begun working on their pieces and will finish them today.
3rd Grade- The students are making soul shakers out of clay. They started this lesson by learning about the history of clay rattles. They then had to sketch out ideas for their project. The requirement was that they had to create a design for their soul shakers that personally reflects an interest or something that is unique to them. We discussed what creative ideas are and how they sometimes really need to think about their ideas and how to make them different before they move forward with their projects. We then walked through the process of how to make a clay soul shaker. Now they personalizing their soul shakers.
4th Grade- In fourth grade the students are creating their favorite places out of clay. We discussed and wrote down how different places make us feel and what kinds of things are in these places that makes us like them so much. They were then required to sketch one of their favorite places as an idea for their project. We reviewed how if the clay is thicker than your thumb that it needs to be hollowed out with a hole or it will blow up in the kiln. The reason for this is that there are air bubbles in the clay and when the clay shrinks in the kiln the air bubbles have no where to go, but out. If the students hollow things out and put a hole in it then the chances of there being air bubbles are pretty small. I showed them how to hollow things out, how to use slabs to create walls of buildings or other structures, how to use pinch pots to create structures, how to reinforce with coils, how to use to tools to create texture, and I reviewed how to score and slip. The students are currently working on their projects.
5th Grade- In 5th grade the students are working with clay too. They learned about the history of clay coil pots through a visual presentation. I showed them a variety of ways that they can make their coil pots unique by using different techniques such as adding faces or animals to their pots, making braids, spheres, and spirals. I showed them examples of how to add texture to their work or how to draw on the outside of their pieces. They also have the option of adding words or quotes using alphabet pasta that burns up in the kiln. I showed them how to build up the coil walls of their pots in such a fashion that their work does not collapse. I demonstrated how to bring the walls out or bring the walls in with the coils. The students created three different sketches for their pots and after a demonstration, they were ready to create their own works. The only requirements is that their pots have to be at least ten inches high and that they have to be waterproof by sealing the inside and glazing them. At the end of this project, we will have a celebration and eat and drink out of the pots.