Lesson 3: Coil Vessels
1. Grade 6 Advanced Art
Lesson: Third Lesson of Unit
Time: Four 45-minute classes
2. Unit Title: Ceramics and Unit Goals:
a. Students will develop an appreciation for the clay and three-dimensional
art forms. (Aesthetic)
b. Students will gain appreciation for the works of various clay artists.
(Aesthetic)
c. Students will explore the influence of art in other cultures. (Historical)
d. Students will demonstrate understanding of basic construction techniques
in clay. (Productive)
e. Students will create work based on elements of art and principles of
design. (Productive)
f. Students will be able to distinguish and discuss art that is created with
different clay techniques. (Critical)
3. Instructional Objectives:
a. The advanced students will review the difference between form and shape
through class discussion. Open versus closed form will be discussed.
b. Students will discuss what a line is and will use line to construct a clay
vessel form.
c. The sixth grade students attentively watch a power point that introduces
clay artist Sally Hook and Pueblo clay culture.
d. The students will construct clay vessels using coil method.
e. The advanced students will incorporate texture in their design of their
vessel, decorative techniques will be used in creating texture.
f. Students will share and discuss how they made each piece.
4. Materials/Media:
a. Clay- to make projects
b. Clay tools:
Plastic forks and/or combs –scoring
Wire tool and/ or string-cut clay
Stamps-texture
Wooden tools- modeling and attaching
Plastic containers- water holders
c. Plastic-cover pieces
d. Slip-attaching pieces
e. Aprons or smocks-protect clothing
f. Glazes-finishing ceramic pieces
g. PowerPoint-view work of clay artist, Sally Hook, and presentation of
teacher instruction (Appendix A)
h. Examples made by teacher, students, and others.
i.
j.
k.
l.
Pencils-sketch out ideas for project
Paper-sketch out ideas for project
Computer with TV or projector -use PowerPoint
Kiln-Glazing and bisque
5. Instructional Procedures:
a. Set:
Examples of students and/or teacher work will be placed in center of the room
prior to students’ arrival. Resources of Pueblo ceramics will be checked out
from library and be placed in classroom during duration of lesson. Examples
of clay vessels will be displayed around room.
b. Key Questions:
i. What is a vessel?
ii. What is open form and closed form?
iii. How does an open form feel compared to a closed form?
c. Classroom Strategies:
Day One- Templates for vessels
Teacher:
1. Sets up materials and examples on center table. Power point in computer ready to
be viewed before class. Objectives will also be written on the board. Students are
asked to arrange seats to be able to view PowerPoint as they enter classroom.
2. Roll is taken.
3. “What is a vessel?”
4. Power Point is shown introducing clay vessels constructed through the use of
coils. Pueblo vessels are viewed along with the work of Sally Hook.
5. After viewing PowerPoint Students are asked questions pertaining to what they
saw.
6. Explanation will be given to students of project. “We’re going to design and
create a clay vessel using the coil method.”
7. Before beginning project students review previous lesson in construction. “What
are the basic techniques used to construct clay pieces? What are ways to
create decoration on a clay piece?” After reviewing the techniques students are
to watch demonstration on how to make a coiled pot. These instructions will also
be displayed on the television.
8. After demo students are instructed on how to create shape of pot using line
drawing to create profiles, which will become a template for their vessel.
9. Students will work on the creating these profiles first. Once the teacher has
approved the template students may begin the clay construction around template.
10. “Once you have your clay and tools please begin making vessel.”
11. “If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.”
12. Teacher assist students during project and makes comments when needed.
13. The last ten minutes of class, will instruct the students to make any last minute
changes.
14. Instruct the students to clean up and prepare to be dismissed from class.
Students:
1. Answer questions during discussion and ask questions if they have any.
2. Review what techniques are for constructing and decorating clay pieces.
3. After review will construct profile using line drawings.
4. Once approved by teacher students may begin clay construction.
5. Work on project for the duration of the class period.
6. Finish up assignment for the day, students should have template for profile of
vessel together.
Day two-Continuing construction
Teacher:
1. Sets up materials and examples on center table. Power point in computer ready to
be viewed before class. Objectives will also be written on the board. Students are
told to pull templates and vessels.
2. Roll is taken.
3. “Who can explain what we are doing with these vessels?”
4. Students are then told to continue working on vessels and to pay attention to the
width of their walls and size of their coils.
5. The step-by-step example will be displayed on the television.
6. After reviewing students are allowed to get clay and tools and continue working.
7. “If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.”
8. Teacher assist students during project and makes comments when needed.
9. The last ten minutes of class, will instruct the students to make any last minute
changes.
10. Instruct the students to clean up and prepare to be dismissed from class.
Students:
1. Answer questions during discussion and ask questions if they have any.
2. Review constructing clay coil vessel.
3. After review will continue to wok on vessels.
4. Work on project for the duration of the class period.
5. Finish up assignment for the day, all students should have started clay
construction and built a base to start from.
Day three-Adding details and texture
Teacher:
1. Sets up materials and examples on center table. Power point in computer ready
to be viewed before class. Objectives will also be written on the board. Students
are told to pull templates and vessels.
2. Roll is taken.
3. Students are then told to continue working on vessels and to pay attention to the
width of their walls and size of their coils. Students are reminded that they have a
minimum height of eight inches.
4. The step-by-step example will be displayed on the television.
5. After reviewing students are allowed to get clay and tools and continue working.
6. “If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.”
7. Teacher assist students during project and makes comments when needed.
8. Students satisfied with basic form are then told to decide on how they want to
texture their piece some students may have been working on this as they built up
walls.
9. The last ten minutes of class, will instruct the students to make any last minute
changes.
10. Instruct the students to clean up and prepare to be dismissed from class.
Students:
1. Answer questions during discussion and ask questions if they have any.
2. Review constructing clay coil vessel.
3. After review will continue to wok on vessels.
4. Work on project for the duration of the class period.
5. Add texture when appropriate.
6. Finish up assignment for the day, all students should have started clay
construction and built a base to start from.
Day Four-Discussion and Finishing
Teacher:
1. Sets up materials and examples on center table. Power point in computer ready to
be viewed before class. Objectives will also be written on the board. Students are
told to pull templates and vessels.
2. Roll is taken.
3. Students are told to display vessels so that classmates can see them.
4. As a class, students discuss the their pieces, the teacher will lead discussion and
help focus discussion.
5. Using the information from discussion students are then told to continue working
on vessels. Students have till the end of class to finish pieces.
6. “If you have any questions or problems, come see me.”
7. Teacher assist students during project and makes comments when needed.
8. The last ten minutes of class, will instruct the students to make any last minute
changes.
9. Instruct the students to clean up and prepare to be dismissed from class.
Students:
1. Answer questions during discussion and ask questions if they have any.
2. After class discussion will continue to wok on vessels.
3. Work on project for the duration of the class period.
4. Add texture when appropriate.
5. Finish clay vessel by end of class.
d. Practice and Review:
i. The students will review their techniques used in creating clay
pieces.
ii. Students will review decorative techniques discussed in previous
lessons
iii. Students will review element of line and form in order to construct
vessels.
e. Learner Involvement:
i. Students will answer and ask questions during discussion.
ii. Students will be expected to share finished work with class.
f. Learning Environment:
i. The teacher will prepare supplies previous to students’ arrival to
class. Supplies will be placed in central location easily accessible
to all students.
ii. The teacher will display appropriate visuals of Pueblo culture and
works of Sally Hook.
g. Closure:
i. The teacher will praise all students for their hard work.
ii. Students will be asked to share work with classmates and describe
what technique they used.
iii. Work will be displayed in the classroom or other designated area.
h. Alternative and/or Supplemental Activities:
i. Students could practice using each technique in constructing
another vessel that incorporates other construction techniques.
ii. Students could create a pair of vessels that work together forming a
relationship.
6. Evaluation:
a. Informal
i. The teacher will observe the effort of the student and their levels of
understanding of the assignment. Student is assessed with use of
time and cooperation with others during class.
ii. The teacher will ask students as they assist and observe what they
have learned and how they feel the work they are doing relates to
other work they have done.
iii. Students will be observed in their use of key terms.
b. Formal
i. The teacher will use a rubric, attached at end of lesson plan, to
grade success of work.
ii. Students will be graded on their successes in discussing the work
to the class through correct terminology.
7. Re-teaching:
a. Teacher will mention use of texture, form, shape, and line from previous
lessons.
b. Students will be asked terminology of techniques and key objectives of
project during production.