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Monday, May 30, 2011

ceramic lesson plans: turtle

( a sample ceramic turtle)
Title: Ceramic Turtle
Topic: learning to work with clay, sculpture
Goals & Objectives:
  • Students will model clay with control.
  • Students will build upon past knowledge in order to craft an original, three-dimensional artwork.
  • Through observation, investigation and discipline, students will create an art object demonstrating the use of the elements and principles of design.
  • Students will use ceramic vocabulary when referring to the processes of shaping clay objects.
GLEs:
Strand I: Product/Performance for Sculpture, Ceramics, Other Media
A.2. Select and apply three-dimensional media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas and solve challenging visual art  problems.
Grade 2 - Manipulate paper to create low relief (e.g., curling, folding, tearing, and cutting), Modeling with clay or a similar material:, Roll coils: flatten material into a slab
Grade 3 - Manipulate paper to create forms (in-the- round), Cut a symmetrical shape from a folded piece of paper, Modeling with clay or a similar material:, Create applied and impressed textures
Strand I: Product/Performance for Subject Matter: Functional Art
B. 3. Communicate ideas about subject matter and themes in artworks created for various purposes
Grade 3 - Create a container (e.g., paper box, clay pot, fiber basket)
Strand II: Elements and Principles – Form
C. 1. Select and use elements of art for their effect in communicating ideas through artwork.
Grade 2 - Identify and use geometric forms: sphere, cube, cylinder, and cone
Grade 3 - Identify and demonstrate sculpture-in-the-round
Strand II: Elements and Principles – Texture
D. 1. Select and use elements of art for their effect in communicating ideas through artwork.
Grade 2 - Identify and use actual texture
Grade 3 - Identify and use invented textures
Strand II: Elements and Principles – Balance
A.2. Select and use principles of art for their effect in communicating ideas through artwork.
Grade 4 - Identify and use radial balance
Strand V: Historical and Cultural Contexts That Describe A Period or Culture
A.1. Compare and contrast artworks from different historical time periods and/or cultures.
Grade 2 - Identify works of art from:
· United States
· (Native American)
· Egypt
Grade: 2nd and 3rd
Length of Class Period: 55 min.
Frequency of Class Period: once a week
Time Needed: three class periods
Facility & Equipment Requirements:
  • One computer lap top
  • Room with good lighting
  • Large tables, approximately ten, each seating four students
  • Two sinks
  • Dry erase board
  • Drying racks
  • Cabinets for storage
  • Projector for viewing computer video, CDs and DVDs
  • Kiln for firing ceramic turtles
Diagram for Ceramic Turtles
Resources Needed:
  • “How and Why: The Painted Turtle – Sauk” from American Indian Mythology by Marriott and Rachlin
  • Tips for beginning potters by Murry's Pottery. This video collection is appropriate for very young students. Murry shows basic techniques, child appropriate language, kind voice, secular presentations, excellent visuals and explanations. (15 videos)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5O2mJELhRg&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
  • Sample for the chalkboard/interactive whiteboard
Materials Per Student:
  • Both a large and small paint brush
  • A selection of glazes in egg carton, one carton per four students
  • A large container of water, one per four students
  • A paper towel
  • Amount of clay approximating the size of a tennis ball per student is used for the modeling of this object
  • A variety of clay printing and modeling tools (wood chips, shells, pencils, clay stamps, etc...)
  • Each student will need one burlap placemat to keep his/her working space clean and also to prevent clay from sticking to their counter space while he/she works
Vocabulary/Terminology:
  1. pinch - to form clay between the fingers and the palm
  2. coil - a rope-like formation of clay
  3. slab - a evenly rolled or pressed layer of clay
  4. bisque - is clay that has been fired but not yet glazed
  5. ceramics - are objects created from stoneware, porcelain or terra cotta
  6. clay - soil, water and sand
  7. fire - is the name for the heat that is used in a kiln
  8. glaze - a glass paint used on pottery
  9. kiln - a special oven used for hardening clay
  10. greenware - pottery that is not yet fired in a kiln
  11. leather hard - the hard condition of clay when it is almost air-dry
  12. score - roughen the clay's surface so that a bond may be formed between two surfaces
  13. sculpture - a three-dimensional art work
  14. slip - a liquid clay used to glue two pieces together
  15. texture - press into the clay surface with objects to create a pattern, design or rough surface
  16. radial design – a type of design based upon a spinning, circular pattern
Motivation- Looking and Talking Activity: The teacher will read aloud a Native American folk tale, “How and Why: The Painted Turtle – Sauk”
Step-by-Step Studio Activity Specifics:
  1. Roll your clay ball in the palms of your hands, do not flatten the clay but compact it into a smooth firm ball for two minutes.
  2. Gently press and turn, press and turn the ball into a hamburger shape onto your burlap mat. Repeat this process until the hamburger shape is a bit larger than the palm of your hand.
  3. If your clay shows signs of cracking, you may add water droplets to the surface of the clay and rub them into the clay as you work.
  4. Slowly press in the middle of the clay shaped hamburger then turn the clay clockwise, pressing down and out to shape a pancake like slab. Do this step repetitively, and slowly until the round slab shape measures approximately five to six inches in diameter.
  5. Press into the clay with a variety of clay printing tools to create a radial design.
  6. Now take the second ball of clay that your teacher gives you and divide it evenly into five equal parts.
  7. Roll all five parts into five, smooth little balls.
  8. Then slightly roll out those five little balls into five “worm shaped” coils. Not snake shapes! Stubby worm shapes are what you need.
  9. Turn your larger turtle shell slab over and place it in the middle of your burlap placemat.
  10. The teacher should demonstrate with her own sample to his or her students how to score the clay with a pencil and then add tiny drops of water to the scored surface, pressing the attached legs and head with the palms of their hands spread flat against the clay joints.
  11. Crush soft paper towels and place a firm wad on top of the undecorated slab shell surface.
  12. Turn the pancake shaped slab over.
  13. Shape the turtle shell into a “taco” like shape.
  14. Gently position the legs and head of the turtle to your satisfaction.
  15. Carve a little smile and dot two eyes on your turtle’s head.
  16. Pinch a little tail at the back end of it’s shell.
  17. Do not remove the crushed paper until the turtle hardens over night.
  18.  Remove the paper before firing the greenware.
  19. After the turtle has been fired, students may glaze three coats of every color at the very least in order to properly cover ceramic pots.
  20. Try not to apply glaze to the bottom surface edges of the turtle feet if it can be helped.
Special Needs Adaptations:
Modifications for the hard-of-hearing or deaf student:
  • Student will be seated closer to instructor so they will be better equipped to hear instructions or read lips
  • Student will be provided with written instructions so that they read about the discussions and demonstrations
  • The instructor may use a amplification devise provided by the school or student’s parents
Modifications for the student with limited vision or blindness:
  • Students will be allowed to observe samples of art projects with their hands and for extended periods of time
  • Students will be provided with safe tools and one-on-one guidance during a demonstration of the project
  • The project may be slightly adjusted to accommodate the student’s limitations or for safety reasons
  • Student will be given ample time to exist classroom before large crowds gather outside of the classroom.
Modifications for students with mild brain injury:
  • Students will be provided with duplicate instructions for home and school. Student will not need to remember to carry home materials to review.
  • Students will be given ample time to exist classroom with a pre-determined aid or peer before the official end of a class.
  • Instructor will provide for parent e-mail communication concerning the progress and needs of their student.
  • Student may be given special seat assignment in order to enable his participation in class appropriately. Specific peers may be better equipped to articulate projects visually for this student.
Health & Safety Concerns: There are no health and safety concerns for this project.
Cleanup Time & Strategy: Students will be instructed to put away art materials neatly in their containers, clean off their tables, and recycle their trash two minutes prior to dismissal.
Assessment: Fill out the formal scoring guide included below according to age appropriate standards.
Close up of ceramic turtle
Bottom of ceramic turtle
Glazes are kept moist with water misting everyday inside of these foam egg cartons
Student is pressing out a turtle shell.
Parts of a turtle shell

The finished project


Directions for Ceramic Turtles, for the whiteboard

 all articles and lesson plans are copyrighted 2011 by Grimm

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