ceramic lesson plans: "an all american berry pie"

Student versions of ceramic berry pies

Title: “An All American Berry Pie” ceramic version

Topic: learning to work with clay, sculpture

Grade: 3^rd grade

Length of Class Period: 55 min.

Frequency of Class Period: once a week

Time Needed: two class periods 
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 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 

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 masks

Resources Needed:

• Sample for the chalkboard or interactive whiteboard. (I will attach below)
• Pattern for ceramic pie shell. ( I will attach below)
• 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)  
• The History of Pie by Laura Mayer 
•  "Blueberries For Sal" by Robert McClosky. If you don't own the book, you may view the story on youtube here.

Materials Per Student:

• A paper towel
• Amount of clay approximating the size of tow tennis balls per student is used for the modeling of this object. The first ball is rolled out into a slab by the instructor in advance of the actual project, and the second ball is used by the students to create berries for the pies.
• A variety of clay printing and modeling tools (wood chips, shells, pencils, clay stamps, etc...)
• Each student will need one burlap place mat to keep his/her working space clean and also to prevent clay from sticking to their counter space while he/she works
• A bowl or cup to keep berries in while students work.
• A shallow dish filled with very little water should be put in the middle of each table for students to dip their fingers into and drip small amount of water onto their clay pieces while they are attaching berries to their pie “shells” and to other berries.

Activity Prior To The Lesson? Teachers may read aloud “Blueberries For Sal” by Robert McCloskey or they may also choose to share an interesting article about pies from the internet, a letter, or childhood memory with the students.

      This ceramic project is also a wonderful addition to a homeroom literacy activity that is planned around “Blueberries For Sal.” The ceramic versions of the following project can be accomplished with salt clay just as effectively. Because salt clay is normally baked in a regular oven; art projects made with it may be taught by those teachers whom do not have access to a fancy kiln.

Step-by-Step Studio Activity Specifics:

1. Prior to class the teacher will need to roll out clay ceramic slabs. I’ve included a pattern for students to use for cutting out their pie pieces with a plastic knife.
2. Students will need to roll out approximately 30 to 40 blueberry-sized balls or approximately 30 cherry sized balls each per one clay pie slice. The teacher should give each student a bowl or cup to keep their clay berries in while they work. This will eliminate some confusion over “rolling” berries during this exercise.
3. The teacher will then pass out to students the supplies they need to begin the assembling of their ceramic pies.
4. The teacher will demonstrate to the students how to cut out the paper patterns, place these on top of the rolled slabs and cut around each pattern.
5. Students will then observe the teacher first before assembling their own pie.
6. Stack berries along the edges of the larger triangle slab, leaving approximately one inch at the flat end of the triangle free from berries. This end will be shaped upward and pinched together with the shorter triangle after the berries have been secured in the first step.
7. The berries should always be stacked using the methods I have discussed in previous ceramic projects. Poke holes or slashes into the clay, add little drops of water and then press each berry firmly into place. This allows the ceramic clay to properly “bond” itself to the clay you are sculpting.
8. Students only need to stack berries on the outer edges of pie slices that will be visible. Add a moist towel to the inside of the pie so that when the top of the slice (smaller triangle) is attached, it will not collapse inward. This towel will burn up during the firing of the pie in the kiln.
9. The students may then slash the outer edges of the top triangle, moisten and press down the top onto the berries. Then lift the back edge of the lower triangle up and pinch it into place with the top triangle. Create this seal with a fork or a nice pinched edge.
10. Students may add fork pricks into the top of their ceramic pies to “mimic” the steam holes of an actual pie.
11. Some students may add whipped cream or additional berries to their pies to make their pies look fancier!
12. After the ceramic pies have been fired, give each student a small set of watercolors to paint their creation.
13. Add touches of clear glossy sealer to the berries to make them look real if you’d like. I even let students paint on white glitter glue on the top of their pies. This looks like sugar.

Clay Vocabulary:

• pinch - to form clay between the fingers and the palm
• coil - a rope-like formation of clay
• slab - a evenly rolled or pressed layer of clay
• bisque - is clay that has been fired but not yet glazed
• ceramics - are objects created from stoneware, porcelain or terra cotta
• clay - soil, water and sand
• fire - is the name for the heat that is used in a kiln
• glaze - a glass paint used on pottery
• kiln - a special oven used for hardening clay
• greenware - pottery that is not yet fired in a kiln
• leather hard - the hard condition of clay when it is almost air-dry
• score - roughen the clay's surface so that a bond may be formed between two surfaces
• sculpture - a three-dimensional art work
• slip - a liquid clay used to glue two pieces together
• texture - press into the clay surface with objects to create a pattern, design or rough surface

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: The teacher will grade the studio assignment and worksheet according to a rubric included with the standard grading charts of the district.

Student samples of ceramic pies

Side view of ceramic pies

Grimm's pie pattern for ceramic pie project

All articles and lesson plans are copyrighted 2011 by Grimm