Ceramics I

Course Description

Students will design and construct hand-built pottery using pinch, coil, and slab methods of construction. They will use glazing and other decorating techniques to complete successful designs in clay.

Grade Level(s): 9th-12th grade

Related Priority Standards (State &/or National): Missouri Grade Level Expectations for Visual Arts

Essential Questions

• How are the elements and principles of design chosen in an informed manner?
• How does media choice aid in the success of an artwork?
• Why do artists create the work that they do or historically did?
• How should an artist present their artwork?
• How should one respond to another person's artwork?

Enduring Understandings/Big Ideas

Students will understand that:

• Form follows function: formal qualities and what form something takes is dependent on what it is supposed to do.
• Media is a vehicle for expression: the base materials of art can be loaded with expressions (especially when done wisely).
• Meaning, feeling, or narrative or not innate in artwork; they have to be wisely uploaded, and then driven into the artwork.
• People create artwork in response to activities, events, and conventions surrounding them: all artists have reasons for what they do.
• The meaning and quality of artwork are subjective, but justifiable.

Course-Level Scope & Sequence (Units &/or Skills)

Unit 1: Pinch Construction

Students will practice and learn how to manipulate clay with their fingers and hands. They will be introduced to making a foot, lip, texture, and lids.

Unit 2: Container

Students will create a pinch container. It will at minimum have a foot, lip, and texture.

Unit 3: Coil Construction

Students will practice and learn how to roll coils and build with clay coils. They will be introduced to making and using a template to control the form of their coil pot. Students will also be introduced to using the slab roller.

Unit 4: Coil Pot

Students will brainstorm coil pot concepts, pick one, have it approved, and complete a large sketch of the final one. They will then create a template to control the form of their coil pot. The coil pot will be around 10 inches tall, be based on their template, and have a foot, lip, and texture.

Ongoing units include slab construction, combined construction, sculptural pottery, glazing, studio procedures/equipment, and critique.

Date Last Revised/Approved: 2010