02/11-02/20 - Clay Fish

Clay Fish

Lesson Objectives: SWBAT manipulate clay using their hands and clay tools in order to create a clay fish sculpture.

Skill to be Mastered: Successfully working with clay, clay tools, and paint to create a painted ceramic sculpture of a fish.

I Can Statement: I can use clay and paint to create a sculpture of a fish.

Teaching Strategy: Introduce project by showing a presentation about fish and the many different species and the different ways that fish have been sculpted by artists. I also show a video showing how to make a pinch pot at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UL5fQtO6qk. The presentation also has step by step pictured instructions to building a pinch pot fish.I will also model how to make the pinch pot myself so they can see first hand how to do it and ask questions at the same time. I use guided practice as the students progress through the project to ensure they are using the proper clay connecting process. I write the instructions on the board as a guideline if they have questions and I am helping someone else. At the end of the project I instruct the students to write a reflection about their fish.

Vocabulary:

Pinch pot

Slurry

Materials:

Clay

Clay tools

Slurry

Tempera Paint

Paintbrush

Paper towels

Water cup

Instructions:

1. Roll up clay to form 2 balls that fit just into the palm of your hand. 

2. Using your thumb press into center of ball about 3/4 of the way through. 

3. Begin to pinch and pull the ball of clay in a circular pattern until the ball forms a round cup or bowl shape.

4. Repeat for second ball of clay.

5. Cut a small hole into the bottom of one of the bowls.

6. Score the rim of each bowl using a scoring tool and apply slip.

7. Connect the bowls and smooth out the seams were they were connected. Set aside.

8. Form the features, (eyes, mouth, lips, fins, teeth, etc.).

9. Score and slip each piece before connecting.

10. Make sure too smooth edges as you go.

11. After fish has been fired, paint with tempera paint.

Modifications: Give extra help building the fish, and extended time to finish. Do not take point away if the fish does not have very many features.

01/30-02/06 - Clay Cups

Clay Cups

Lesson Objective: SWBAT use the clay molding technique of coil and slab to create a cup with a handle.

Essential Skill to be Mastered: To use hands and tools in order to manipulate clay using a slab technique in order to make a cup.

I Can Statement: I can use the slab technique to make a clay cup.

Teaching Strategy: Day 1: I first had the students watch a video of how to make a clay cup using the slab technique http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTkM6HvisCE. We then had a discussion about clay rules and procedures. I showed them all the clay tools and how to use and clean them daily. We also discussed the video and I answered all questions the students had. After the students did two different design sketches they might use on their cups. Day 2: I start by modeling how to cup their clay from a block, how to roll it out and how to attach two pieces of clay together. After which I have them get their tables ready and start their own cup. Day 3-5: I use guided practice throughout the process to help with any and all questions that arise and to ensure students are following procedures. Directions are written on the front board as guide to follow.

Vocabulary:
Slab Technique
Score, Slip, Squish, Smooth
Clay Tools

Materials:
Drawing paper
Pencil
Clay
Clay tools
Water
Slip
Sponges
Table cover

Instructions:
1. Draw two different designs that will go on the cup (choose between the two)
2. After getting clay use a rolling pin to roll out the slab to about 1/4-1/2 inch thick.
3. Cut out a rectangle about 12x5 inches.
4. Roll into a cylinder shape (should be about 5 inches tall) keeping the inside open.
5. Score and slip the ends together and smooth out the seam using clay tools or fingers.
6. Roll out scrap clay to same thickness and set the cylinder. Set the cylinder on the slab and cut out the bottom by tracing the cylinder.
7. Score, slip, squish, and smooth bottom onto cylinder.
8. Cut out shapes (that will match drawn design) and attach to cylinder using the score and slip method.
9. Rub cup with water occasionally to help prevent it from drying.
10. Smooth out all uneven areas.
11. If using a handle cut out and attach (do this process when the cup is almost leather hard).
12. When finished let the cup dry out to the bone dry stage
13. Fire

02/05-02/12 - Painted Shapes

Painted Shapes

Lesson Objective: SWBAT to understand geometric and organic shapes, and use that understanding to create an abstract piece of original artwork.

Essential Skill to be Mastered: To create an abstract piece of art using painted cut out shapes that shows the illusion of a light source.

I Can Statement:  I can use painted cutout geometric and organic shapes that show the illusion of a light source to create an abstract work of art.

Teaching Strategy: Day 1 - Begin by questioning the students to make sure they remember from previous lessons the difference between geometric and organic shapes. Have them identify different geometric and organic shapes in the classroom. Show a circle template and draw a circle on the board without using the template and ask why the drawn circle is not actually a geometric shape. Explain, if students do not know that the circles on the template are perfect circles whereas when someone draws one it is usually not perfect. Have students try to draw a perfect circle on paper without the aid of measuring devices or templates to provide an understanding about perfect geometric circles. Then show an example of the finished project they are to create. Have them look at the other geometric shapes and ask what they notice about it (that all the edges are straight and each shape was measured before cutting out. Refer back to previous projects they did on value. Question them about how value can create on a 2 dimensional surface the illusion of 3 dimensional forms and the direction a light is shining. Have someone hand out poster board to start drawing their backgrounds to cut out. Day 2 - Model how to create darker or more intense shades of color to give the illusion of depth  Day 3-5 - Use guided practice to ensure students are using rulers or templates to create more authentic geometric shapes. When students are finished with project have them write a reflective essay on another students work. Have them pick students another students work to write about but only allowing one student to write about any one work. Give them guidelines on what they are to look for and write about in each others work. Give students a critique guide handout to use when writing their own critique.

Vocabulary Terms:
Organic Shapes
Geometric Shapes
Light Source
Color Intensity
Shade
Critique

Materials:
14x22 Poster board
Tempera paint
Paintbrush
Ruler
Circle template
Scissors
Water
Paper towels

Instructions:
1. Draw a random organic shape big enough to fill the poster board or at least close, to use as the background.
2. Cut out background.
3. Paint background two different colors using any pattern or design of choice.
4. Using a ruler to make straight edges or a circle temple to make circles, draw at least 8 geometric shapes.
5. Cut out shapes.
6. Paint shapes colors of choice but not the same as the background and indicate with paint the impression of a light source on the shapes.
7. When gluing shapes to background try to arrange so the eye has somewhat of a line to follow.
8. Have students draw names to write a critique about another student's project.