Submitted by: Walaa Hossam
Grade: 7
Topic: CLAY “COIL POTS"
Learning Objectives To Know/Understand:
• 1. Knowledge:
• Describes the coil pot building process and apply this understanding to creating an actual coil pot.
• Demonstrate good craftsmanship through the final appearance and construction of the pot.
To Do/Produce:
• 2. Skills
• Create a coil pot that has a specific function like a teapot, water jar.
• Elaborate and evaluate how design principles such as unity, rhythm, and balance were utilized in designing the pot. Include perspectives from aesthetics and art criticism.
• To be able to build a clay coil pot that has the following criteria:
• 3. Values
• The students will work cooperatively with a partner
• Control of media--demonstrates good craftsmanship
• Designed with specific function in mind--container, teapot
• Emphasizes good design--unity, rhythm, form, and balance.
Resources Needed:
1. A video related to the pottery made forms
2. A demo
3. A model
4. Handbuilt Pottery Techniques Revealed: The Secrets of Handbuilding Shown in Unique Cutaway Photography
- Author and expert potter Jacqui Atkin instructs in coil, slab, mold, and pinch techniques to produce pots, bowls, vases, tiles, and other decorative pieces. She also lists basic tools the potter will need, instructs on mixing and preparing clay, and advises on use of coloring agents.
Materials:
1. Art Historical images
2. Pictures of public sculptures
3. Brown Kraft Paper
to cover tables
4. Moist Clay
5. Clay Modeling Tools
Prior knowledge to build upon What is Clay?
Clay is a special kind of earth which is made by the decomposition of rocks through the action of weathering.
Method/s for targeted review MOTIVATION:
For the students to be introduced to working with clay.
Introduction/Warm up:
Key Questions: Can anyone tell me something about clay? Where does it come from? How may it be used? Can anyone name something that is made out of clay? How do you think it was made? How do you think this clay can become hard? Does anyone know what sculpture is? There are some sculptures that we see every day here in our neighborhood - can anyone think of any? How many people do you think get to see it? What does it mean for a sculpture to be placed outside in public? Who might take care of it?
Vocabulary:
Clay, 3D, sculpture, push and pull (in terms of clay).
Procedure:
Students will gather on the carpet. We will look at the clay, pictures of public sculpture, and examples of Keith Haring's public sculpture and 3D work.
Demonstration with clay: Talk about the properties of clay. Go over pinch, coil, push and pull. Ask students to come up with some ideas of things to make with the clay.
Students go to sit at desks: Before giving out the clay to the students, explain that today everyone should play with the clay, and try to experiment making many different things. Let them know that at the end of the class everyone will roll their clay back into a ball so it can be used by other students.
Students work: Students work with the clay for the remainder of the class. Periodically gather their attention and tell them about some of the things that have been created so far in the class.
Closure:
At the end of the class the students are to roll their clay back into a ball. Remind the students that artists don't always make a work of art when they work. Let them know that they will have the chance to make something more permanent out of clay.
Activities:
NY STATE STANDARDS
1. Creating, performing, participating
2. Knowing and using materials
3. Responding and analyzing works of art
Comments & Feedback
Learning activities (differential) :
1. Art Making: Students work with clay.
2. Literacy in the Arts: Students are introduced to sculpture vocabulary.
3. Making Connections: Students think about where clay comes from, and what it is used for.
4. Community and Cultural Recourses: Public Sculpture.
5. Careers and Lifelong Learning: Students think about people who use clay for things other than art.
Enrichment Activities for More Able students
To find out more about clay ideas. What worked well:
Activities for Less Able students:
Watching more videos about ways of forming clay
What worked well:
Integration with other subject areas :
Art with social studies
Assessment (Student is able to:
• Describe the coil pot building process and apply this understanding to creating an actual coil pot.
• Demonstrate good craftsmanship through the final appearance and construction of the pot.
• Create a coil pot that has a specific function like a teapot, water jar, etc.
• Elaborate and evaluate how design principles such as unity, rhythm, and balance were utilized in designing the pot. Include perspectives from aesthetics and art criticism--refer to Getty ArtsEdNet below.
Feedback and Additional support
Homework
Feedback and Additional support
What worked well:
Critical Thinking Method(s) Used
1. Creating, performing, participating
Value(s) Approached
1. Collaborating 2. responding
General Feedback:
Lesson Objectives achieved.
□ Yes □ No □ Partially □ Re-visit
What is Clay?
Clay is a special kind of earth which is made by the decomposition of rocks through the action of weathering.
What does that mean?
Well basically, over time, bits of earth are carried from one place to another by water and deposited in areas where the water slows down to a trickle. (Have you ever gone digging by the water's edge only to grab a handful of muck? Well that muck is clay.) As the bits of earth travel with the water, they pick up all sorts of stuff and by the time we pick up a box of clay from the pottery store, the muck has been collected and prepared for us to use. All of the tiny rocks and lumps have been removed and some additional materials, like sand are sometimes added to create the perfect workable clay.
What Else?
Clay can be found anywhere but it is only useful for pottery if it has good "plasticity." You can test this by seeing how stretchy a piece of clay is. If you can take a piece of clay, roll it into a coil and bend it into a ring without cracking and falling apart, chances are it will make good pots and sculptures.
Natural clay that we find outside usually needs to be cleaned and refined before it can be used. Any tiny rocks and lumps are removed and some additional materials, like sand are sometimes added to create the perfect workable clay that we buy from the pottery supply house.
Working With Clay:
Clay artists throughout the ages have invented many ways to shape things out of clay.
PINCH - Use your fingers to pinch and poke a single lump of clay into any shape.
SLAB - Roll the clay into flat sheets (like a pie crust) to cut apart and assemble.
COIL - Roll out long snakes of clay and twist them into coils and shapes.
WHEEL - Spin clay on a potter's wheel to form pots and vases.
Clay Definitions:
Wedging: This is what you do to get all of the air bubbles out of your clay. Basically you roll the clay around on a flat surface "pushing" and "pulling" the clay so all of the air comes out. Clay right out of the box is already wedged ... you don't have to worry about air bubbles with new clay.
Kiln: This is a large, hot oven that is used to fire the clay. You need to fire your clay in a kiln in order for it to be permanent. A kiln can reach temperatures of 2500 degrees F. and higher. Your oven at home maybe reaches 500 degrees F.
Earthenware: This is the type of clay often used in schools. It comes in white or red and it is fired to a temperature of approximately 1000 degrees C. or 1830 degrees F.
Slip: This is liquid clay ... clay with a lot of water added to it. It is used in ceramics (poured into molds). It is also sometimes used as a sort of glue to hold clay pieces together. You need to use slip to "fasten" pieces of clay together so that they don't fall apart in the kiln. You see, clay shrinks as it dries so if you haven't made sure that your clay pieces are firmly attached, they will separate in the kiln. It isn't enough to simply "pile" one piece of clay on the next. Use watered down clay as your glue.
Leather-Hard: This is what we call clay that has dried for a few hours. It should feel slightly cool to the touch. Leather-hard clay is not dry enough for firing in a kiln ... If a piece of clay is put into the kiln while it is still wet, it could explode. When water gets hot ... it boils right? Well, your pottery piece will literally "blow up" if it contains water or moisture that boils when it gets hot in the kiln.
Greenware: When clay has dried and is ready to be fired in a kiln, it is referred to as greenware. Usually clay should air dry for about a week depending on the thickness of the piece.
Bisque: This is the first firing. Clay is usually fired in a kiln twice. Once at a lower temperature (the bisque firing). After a piece is bisque, it can be glazed, painted or left as is. If the clay is glazed, it then goes in the kiln for a second firing.
Glaze: This is used to decorate clay that will hold liquid. It is essentially "liquid glass" or glass particles (mixed with colors or pigments) that have been ground down. Glaze melts at a high temperature and turns into the coatings that you see on a finished pottery piece.
Cone: The temperature that a kiln is set to depends on what type of clay you are firing. Some clay is referred to as cone 4 while some clay is referred to as cone 6. These are simply temperature gauges. A cone - designed to melt at a certain temperature - is used to gauge the temperature. Earthenware is usually fired to cone 06 - approximately 1000 degrees C. or 1832 degrees F. Your oven is only about 500 degrees F.
WARNING:
DO NOT ALLOW CLAY TO GO DOWN YOUR DRAIN! If clay gets into your sink, you will have a major problem. Always rinse your hands in a bucket of water ... the clay will settle to the bottom and you will be able to pour the water off the top outside) and you will be able to use the slurry clay at a later time
