Clay Excitement

I can't wait to put these babies in the kiln!  These are 7th grade creations.  I ask that my 7th graders create hollow forms from pinch pots and transform them into their own works with a minimum of two attachments.  I remind them that I'm focused on them practicing their hand building skills, especially their score and slip techniques.  I want them to be creative in their art making while building on and practicing their clay skills.  I can't wait to get them glazed!  But for now, here is a sneak peak of a few greenware items:

 

Terra Cotta Warriors

Artwork inspired by the Chinese Terra Cotta Warriors:

The latest and greatest Terra Cotta Warriors!  For a detailed description of the lesson and process, check out previous posts here and here and here.  However, one thing I have changed about my teaching is due to some new technology I have at my disposal.  I have a SMART TV in my classroom--think giant television sized tablet.  The TV is amazing and I love that it has replaced my projector.  One of the main things I love about it is that I don't have to have the lights off to see what is on the screen.  This is my favorite feature because I can make demonstration videos and loop them so that they play non stop during work time.  This has been a tremendous help, because all teachers know that it is difficult being the one expert in a room of 25-30 curious, learning minds.  The looping videos allow me to work one on one with those struggling while a lot of those that simply forgot what step comes next or how to do something can glance up at the screen and watch to see what it was that they need to do.  I can't tell you how helpful this is!  Such a time saver and the kids love it so that they don't all have to wait for me to make it through the sea of raised hands to get to their "quick question."

Bisqueware:

Post Smoke Firing:

Checkout that crossbow!

This student had no idea who Charlie Chaplin is/was but he totally created a Charlie Chaplin Warrior!  Love that he even gave it a bowler hat and cane!

Clay Extravaganza!

Clay Clay Clay!

I've posted about my various art lessons in more detail in the past, so I'll just repost the links to those and share the photos of the great things my kiddos made this year

4th Grade-Pinch Pot Monsters

http://missartypants.blogspot.com/2014/02/pinch-pot-monsters.html

I had to get a close up so you could see this guy's tail!  Love the details these kids come up with!

Same group, just closer so you could see their details from a different angle

The green guy reminds me of a modern Gizmo!

The turquoise monster is holding fire in each hand...such a creative idea!

5th Grade- Clay Pinch Pot Characters

In 5th Grade, I allow for a lot more freedom with their clay creations, but I still want them working with pinch pots to get that basic clay technique down.  I love the range of ideas the kids have!

http://missartypants.blogspot.com/2014/03/pinch-pot-characters.html

6th Grade- Clay Terra Cotta Warrior Sculptures

http://missartypants.blogspot.com/2013/03/terra-cotta-warriors.html I actually have multiple links to this lesson for various examples and years that have made these, but this is the link that shares the bulk of the lesson

7th Grade- Hollow Form from Pinch Pots

Similar to the 5th grade lesson, I let the kids decide what they are going to make almost entirely.  I just ask that it be made from two pinch pots that create a hollow form and that they add attachments so that they can practice the slip and score methods for strong attachments and an awesome chance to show off their creativity and interests

8th Grade- Clay Boxes (slabs and cylinders)

http://missartypants.blogspot.com/2014/05/themed-clay-boxes.html

This year we still made slab boxes but they had to be cylindrical.  I originally said they had to use cylinders because it was a faster process than cutting a bunch of square/rectangular slabs, but I might stick with the cylinders in the future just because I really enjoyed seeing the kids work this way.

Themed Clay Boxes

EXTRA! EXTRA! 8th Grade Finally Works with Clay!

My 8th graders haven't worked with slabs before so I thought this would be a good opportunity.  The lesson is pretty simple and self explanatory, so I'll lay out the basics.  The students were asked to sketch out a plan for a themed box.  The theme needed to be portrayed in some way, shape or form on all sides of the box plus it required a topper (gotta practice those slip and scoring skills).  This meant that some of my students planned on adding attachments to their sides and others painted or carved into them while all of them had to create a 3D topper to attach to the lid.  Once the sketches were done, they made templates from posterboard (most of the students planned on cubes, so this step was easy).  I taught them how to make a slab.  As I tend to do with middle school, I made them an instructional video and did a class demonstration. It is hard for all of them to gather around a table and watch me, so the video helps with that part and the live demo helps clarify anything they were confused about in the video.

They each made their necessary slabs and once they were leather hard, we slipped and scored them together  (as a hollow form, we cut the lids off later) plus any other attachments we needed and carved what needed to be carved.  We cut the lids to have uneven edges with Exacto knives so that the lid wouldn't just slide right off but it also had to be removable.  Once bisqued, they had the choice of painting their box with acrylics and adding a gloss, or they could glaze it.  And as I always say...they came out great!  I absolutely love the work that these kids do!  I tried to get a couple of angles on a few of these, so you could see how their themes panned out:

Important caption to the bird box--this student's box was caving in while she attached her slabs and instead of giving up, she altered her plan and made something creative and beautiful!  Love when that happens!

Fall of 2014 Examples:

Display Case of 8th Grade Themed Clay Boxes with 2nd Grade Animal Accents

 Close ups:

Marvel Box View 1

Marvel Box View 2

 

Coke Can

Cupcake

Gatorade Bottle

Beach Scene and Dowling High School Volleyball Theme

Lighthouse

Notre Dame Football

Outer Space-Planets View 1

Outer Space- Planets View 2

Winter Theme with a Canadian Maple Leaf

Cross Country Theme

Robot

Frog

Police Box

Snowman
Side note: this snowman was dropped during the making of it and she gave it the TLC it needed to revive the smashed up version!

Easter Theme

Cat with Fish Topper!

Minion

Clay Kitty

Penguin

One of my avid readers made this book themed box! (view 1)

Book Themed View 2

Mario and Luigi!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Slug View 1

Teenage Mutant Ninja Slug View 2

Teenage Mutant Ninja Slug View 3 (back)

Fall Theme View 1

Fall Theme View 2

Fairy Tale View 1

Fairy Tale View 2

Minion

Gatorade

Clay Cat