Introduction to Ceramics
Ceramics 1A
Highline High School
Career and Tech Ed / Fine Art
Ms. Carlton
Phone: 206-631-6700
Email: carltoee@hsd401.org
Class Website: http://www.highlineschools.org/Page/4629
This class will serve as an introduction to the ceramic arts. Through out this course you will learn how to
manipulate clay and create a variety of 3-D forms. You will create and explore both the craft and art of ceramics.
You will master introductory hand-building techniques, learn the basics of throwing on a potter’s wheel, and
experiment with a variety of glazing techniques.
Course Structure:
Students will focus throughout the course on Hand-Building – learning techniques such as pinch, coil, and slab
work, and Throwing – learning how to successfully center clay, and create a variety of beginning pottery projects.
Course Objectives:
 To learn about the structure and nature of clay.
 To learn beginning hand-building and wheel throwing techniques.
 To create successful 3 dimensional art.
RULES:
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Respect others, the learning environment, and yourself.
Come prepared to work
Clean up your work area.
Follow Highline High School rules.
Sign and follow the behavior contract.
SUPPLIES YOU NEED FOR THIS CLASS: Ceramics can be messy. You may want to bring a towel or
apron to use while you are on the pottery wheel. It is important to dress appropriately for the class.
LAB FEE: There is a $20 lab fee for this class. This fee covers glazes, tools, and 2
bags of clay. It is important to pay as soon as possible in order for you to begin work
on your projects.
CLAY FEE: Should you need more then 2 bags of clay for the semester, you may
purchase additional bags of clay for $6 per bag. The amount of clay that you use in
the semester is dependent on the size of your projects and the amount of wasted clay.
* You will need to pay Ms. Buck, the bookkeeper, for your lab fee by check or cash.
Financial assistance is available if needed – see Ms. Carlton or your counselor for
more information about financial assistance for your lab fee.
GRADING:
Your class projects make up 60% or your grade. Projects are what you will spend the majority of your time doing
in this class. You will have a rubric of requirements and guidelines for each project. Each project grade will be
based mostly off of the rubric for the project, which acts as a self-assessment and a teacher evaluation.
Other factors that make up your grade for each project are:
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Participation in critiques
Following instructions
Creativity and concept
Improvement of skill
Proper use of materials
Completion of the assignments on time
Effort and attitude
Participation
Neatness and presentation
PARTICIPATION AND WORK POINTS
A positive “YES” attitude is key to your success in this class. 30% of your grade each quarter is based on your
attitude, attendance and participation in class work/activities.
Your Participation grade is based on the following:
 Attendance
- Your attendance in class is required. Your participation grade is based on your daily work,
and is negatively affected by poor attendance and non-work days.
 Being prepared everyday
 Work on art the whole class period
 Positive and Respectful attitude
 Participation in discussions and activities
 Clean up after yourself and help keep the common areas clean.
 Be a lab assistant at least once in the semester.
LAB ASSISTANT
Everyone is required to be a lab assistant 1 time each semester. This will take most of the class period. You will be
responsible for cleaning, organizing and helping with classroom needs. You will be able to sign up for a day and
will receive instructions on what you will do on that day. It is wise to pick a day when you finish a project early.
Don’t wait to long to do this. This will affect your participation grade.
LEADERSHIP
Leadership is an important part of CTE curriculum. 10% of your grade will be based on your leadership in the
class. More information about leadership jobs/tasks will come.
This syllabus will be posted on the district website.
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Please share this with your Family/Parent/Guardian and return a signed copy.
Print Student Name:______________________________________________
Student Signature_________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
__________________________________________
Highline High School Behavior Contract
For Ceramic Arts Classes
Welcome to the wonderful world of Ceramics! In order to fully dive into this
world we need to set some things straight, so that everyone is safe,
respected, and honored in this class. It is your responsibility to read,
understand and sign this sheet in order to continue on in this class.
This is a binding contract. Failure to follow the contract will result in
one of the following consequences:
Warning, Conference, Referral, Phone call home, or removal from class.
CONTRACT
There is to be NO Cell phones, IPODS, MP3 players, or computer devices. You
have the option of using a portable Walkman tape or CD player, only when you
are working independently on a project, never when your teacher or someone
else is presenting or talking to the class.
- If you have a cell phone, ipod… out in class you will be asked 1st
to put it away (warning). If it comes out again – I will ask for
it to hold onto until the end of class. Failure to give-up your
device when asked, is a referral.
There are NO slurs, put downs, or cussing!
- Slurs – meaning a racial or discriminating comment about an
individual or group of people. This includes homophobic slurs: gay, fag…
These slurs are considered by Highline High school and the government to be
harassment, and a harassment charge could be filled. 1st offence you will
receive a warning depending on the comment and asked to “monitor your
language/words” 2nd is a conference/referral.
Do not mistreat/misuse/ or destroy the supplies.
Everyone is responsible
for cleaning up his or her space and common spaces, i.e. the sink area…
Do not throw clay! When clay dries it becomes powder. That powder is called
silicate dust, which can be harmful to your lungs and mine. If you throw clay
you will be “F” dropped from class with no warning. All areas where you work
with clay need to be cleaned with water.
NO wet clay is allowed outside of the classroom.
Respect yourself, and others! This means no self-hate-talk and no rude
comments to others. We are a community and we need to treat each other as
such.
I agree to this behavior contract.
Student Signature ____________________________________
Print your name_______________________________________ DATE____________