Ceramics and Sculpture
Kathleen Hammond/ B222 University Academy Upper School 2015-16
816-412-5964
hammondk@universityacademy.org
Course Description
This class will build on the foundations of ceramics and explore building techniques such as pinch, coil, mold, slab, and
throwing. Students will delve deeper into sculpting technique, ceramic terminology and history, and various glazing
techniques. We will also explore sculptural technique in various media such as foam carving, recycled material
assemblage, papier mache’ , and various forms of wire sculpture. In addition to your individual projects, all students will
rotate on the Gryphon. Participation points will be credited for your work ethic. The same two students will rotate
together all year- this teamwork will allow consistency in aesthetics. This Gryphon WILL BE finished this year and YOU
are going to do it! We will be brainstorming ideas for its final design.
The student’s work should demonstrate creativity, originality, and mastery of craftsmanship. As we create, we will also
explore historical and contemporary art genres and artists. This will provide the tools necessary to look critically at art
through the ages to make us more informed global citizens, while allowing us to better understand and appreciate the
historical and cultural context for each period. Upper level students (Ceramics III, IV, and pre-AP) will be expected to go
above and beyond on the ceramic projects.
Expectations
You must be ready to learn, engage your mind, be creative, and be original! Preparation and a willingness to try are
essential.
DO NOT FEAR MISTAKES- they are opportunities for learning in this classroom and for life in general.
Classroom Rules
Follow all instructions given by the teacher.
Be respectful at all times. Please give it AND expect it!
You must enter the classroom and get right to work. This is NOT cause for you to stop and socialize along the
way. The art room needs to be QUIET so your synapses can fire effectively and your artwork is the best possible.
Talking privileges will be EARNED and can be taken away. This is as a class so be respectful of your peers. Once
the privilege is earned as a CLASS, there will be minimal, quiet talking only. If this cannot be accomplished, we
will revert to NO talking at all- this is your choice. Quality artwork is your goal in this class- NOT socializing.
If you need assistance on a project, please do not blurt out my name from across the room. Raise your hand and
be patient. I will assist you as soon as possible. Meantime, work on what you can.
Any misuse of supplies and/or tools is strictly prohibited.
You must have cleaned up and put away your supplies by the dismissal bell to leave on time. This is your entire
table. You are a team and must act accordingly. The bell does NOT dismiss you. Do not expect a tardy pass if
you are not cleaned up on time. Help each other out-teamwork goes a long way!
When absent, it is your responsibility to ask for make-up work and turn it in by the due date given. This must be
done within one week of absence for full credit.
NEVER touch anyone’s property but your own.
Do not eat, drink, or sleep in class. NO cell phones or other electronics allowed unless permission is
specifically granted.
All school-wide policies including dress code and tardy policy apply.
When in doubt, refer to rule one!
Failure to comply with these rules will result in the following consequences in this order—Redirection, teacher-student
conference, buddy room and/or phone call home, and lastly, an office referral —in that order.
Required Materials
All materials are provided. Textbooks are used in class only and are as follows:
Art Talk, Third Edition, Rosalind Ragans, Ph.D., McGraw Hill Glencoe.
The Annotated Mona Lisa, A Crash Course in Art History From Prehistoric to Post-Modern. Carol Strickland, Ph.D., and
John Boswell. Andrews and McMeel.
History of Art, Sixth Edition, H.W. Hanson and Anthony F. Janson, Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
Experience Clay, Maureen Mackey, Davis Publications, Inc.
Course Requirements
Participation in reading assignments, class discussions, presentations, note-taking, critiques, homework, and projects is
required.
Incomplete projects by the deadline are an automatic “D” at the minimum. These projects can be finished after school
and turned in for a better grade (full credit of final earned grade) within an agreed-upon time frame will be discussed on
an individual basis. Tutoring or make-up days after school will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Other days may be
available-just ask. Designated mastery projects must be finished to at least 80% which is considered mastery. This may
be achieved by reworking or completely re-doing from scratch, whichever is necessary.
Various types of formal and informal assessments are done with each project. Informal assessments occur during the
project by the teacher and student together. These are constant- we have to analyze how we’re doing at each step to
make sure our project is the best it can be!
First semester, there will be one art history essay over an artist or genre that we base a project on. Ample class time will
be provided for research and writing. The only outside work on this is the final essay. If class time has been used wisely,
this should simply be rewriting the rough draft in to a final draft. As with any class, plagiarism is not tolerated and will
result in a zero and an office referral. NO late papers will be accepted unless specifically granted by the instructor.
Second semester will have a creative writing assignment in lieu of an essay.
University Academy Upper School
Grading Standards and Scale:
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
0-59%
A
B
C
D
F
Mastery projects
Other projects
Participation
Homework
Tests
40%
35%
10%
10%
5%
** Parents, please note the best way to reach me is via email (shown above). I welcome your thoughts and concerns
and look forward to working with you and your child this year! Please stop by on occasion and see your student’s
artwork displayed in the halls.
Signature Required
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Due by Friday, August 14.
(100 points)
First “A” or “F”
Student name and signature _____________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian name and best daytime contact information
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Parent signature _______________________________________________________________________