Students
will learn the basics of working with clay by creating whimsical pinch pot
chickens. This lesson plan is designed for all students just depends on the
detail and information you want them to learn in this hands-on lesson. We have a guest artist coming to our school in the spring and I wanted to introduce her book and talk about her style of art. This was a great way to let them learn about Mavis Stevens and her book Last Chance Trailer Park. We created clay chickens that could be Lucy's friends from the book. I like to
introduce them to fundamental ceramic techniques and foster their creativity
through the lesson and the vocabulary.
National
Visual Arts Standards:
- Creating: Conceiving and
developing new artistic ideas and work.
- Presenting: Interpreting and
sharing artistic work.
- Responding: Understanding and
evaluating how the arts convey meaning.
- Connecting: Relating artistic
ideas and work with personal meaning and external context.
Lesson
Outline:
Introduction
(15 minutes): Begin by discussing the basic properties of clay and its use in
art. Introduce the concept of pinch pots and explain how they are a simple yet
versatile form of working with clay. Show images or examples of pinch pot
chickens to inspire the students. I usually find a clip or too from online to
share with the class as a reference point for them.
Vocabulary:
- Clay: A natural material composed
of minerals, decomposed plant material, and other organic substances.
- Pinch Pot: A hand-built pottery
technique that involves shaping clay by pinching it with fingers, forming
a hollow container.
Demonstration:
I demonstrate the step-by-step process of creating a pinch pot chicken.
Emphasize the importance of starting with a ball of clay, pinching the sides to
create the pot shape, and adding details like a beak, wings, and tail. We talk about
slipping and scoring…all the clay “things”.
Vocabulary:
- Review Coil: A long, snake-like
piece of clay used to create cylindrical forms in pottery. (this was done
in a previous lesson)
- Score and Slip: A method of
attaching pieces of clay together by scoring (scratching the surface) and
slipping (applying water or clay slip).
Hands-On
Activity: Allow students to work individually on their pinch pot chickens.
Circulate around the classroom to aid and encouragement. Encourage creativity
in the design of their chickens, such as experimenting with different facial
expressions, feathers, and textures.
Vocabulary:
- Texture: The surface quality of
an object, often sensed through touch.
- Bisque Firing: The initial firing
of clay to a low temperature, which makes it more durable and ready for
glazing.
Clean-up
and Reflection: Instruct students on proper clay cleanup procedures. Discuss
the creative process and ask students to share their thoughts on what they
enjoyed and found challenging during the activity.
Vocabulary:
- Kiln: A high-temperature oven
used to fire clay and transform it into ceramic.
- Glaze: A liquid mixture
containing minerals that, when applied to bisque-fired pottery, creates a
glossy, colorful finish.
Celebrating
the students' unique clay chickens was easy! We emphasized the importance of
creativity in the arts. Displayed the finished projects in the classroom and put
them on our social media platforms to showcase the students' achievements.
Scroll
down to see how they came out. We made the pinch pot and then we flipped it
upside down to create the chicken. Fun….1969
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