Ceramics Course – Pascack Hills High School
Danielle Garretson and John Dinkey
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1 Marking Period
Beginning – Introduction
During the first marking period, students will first learn about the history of ceramics
including prehistoric to North American Indians. These history lessons will be combined
with the three basic ways to work with clay. The students will learn each process
individually and will combine the three together only after each technique is mastered.
Students will also learn about the different clay bodies and clay stages.
Pinch Pot Process– Native American
Make a few and add some kind of addition to the last one. They should be smooth, thin,
and symmetrical.
Make at least 3 to learn.
Coil Process
Students will make three simple pots to learn process (coil making, slip/score/smooth).
Students should concentrate on creating consistent size coils through out pot making
process. Students will be required to make a series of different types of coil pots varying
a cylinder shape (see page 40 of Clay Modeling for Everyone). Students will begin
experimenting with creating patterns and shapes with the coils.
Slab Process
Students will learn how to build with slabs by making a cylinder, square pot, and a plate
using drape mold. The cylinder should be rolled out evenly and when attached to the
circle clay base, the cylinder should be symmetrical, smooth, and of the required height.
The square pot should also demonstrate similar qualities but will be graded more of
ability to use templates and attach sides of square using slip in a well-crafted manner.
Students will make a textured plate using provided drape mold. Students will make
decorative feet for the plate (see Amaco handout on molds).
Combination Projects
Now that students are familiar with the above three clay techniques, students will
combine the processes together to
Pinch & Coil – page 45 of Clay Modeling for Everyone
Coil & Slab – large scale vase decorated with coils
Pinch, Coil, & Slab – serving dish displayed on page 33 of Clay Modeling for Everyone
Research Project
Students during the first marking period will be required to complete a multimedia
research project on a particular culture or time period in Ceramic history.
Example: Prehistoric, China, Africa, Pre-Columbian, Aztec, Mayan, Inca, North
American Pueblo Indians.
2nd Marking Period
Glazing & Decorating
Students will be taught about the different ways to design or embellish a piece of clay
work. Students will learn how apply texture and pattern as well as use glazes and slip to
apply color.
Students will also understand different types of kilns and how they fire clay and glaze.
Low fire underglaze and glaze techniques (taken from The Potters Guide to Ceramic
Surfaces):
o Drawing and painting/brushwork on clay – underglaze crayons & pencils
o Mono-printing
o Pouring and dipping
o Banding (using wheels)
o Combing
o Sponge Printing
o Wax resist
o Underglaze diluted washes
Colored slips (taken from page 55 The Potters Guide to Ceramic Surfaces):
o Slip trailing
o Feathering and marbling
o Spotting
o Combing
o Mocha
o Sponge printing
o Inlaying slips
Applying texture:
o Sgraffito
o Stamping
o Incising
Throwing on the Wheel (begin during glazing and will continue into third marking
period)
Students will learn how to throw clay on the pottery wheel. Students will watch demo and
will participate in days of practice throwing first. They will learn centering, pulling,
finishing the piece by trimming the foot and lip and removing the piece from the wheel.
Students will also learn how to make handles, lids, and spouts.
Students will have to master throwing a cylinder on the wheel before beginning
assignment.
Project 1
Cup with handle, bowl, mug (pulling clay up- 8in. in height)
Students also will have to make a matching platter using their hand building skills and a
drape mold. They will be able to choose what type of platter they want to make and will
be responsible for adding feet or a pedestal.
Project 2
Jar with lid.
3rd & 4th Marking Period Projects
Tile Making
During the same time students are finishing up wheel projects they will be introduced to
creating interesting clay tiles. Students will make a themed piece that incorporates four
related tiles. The relief process and carving techniques will be taught. Students will also
learn casting techniques.
Public Art Project
Students will learn about the history and importance of public art. US cities such as Los
Angeles, Philadelphia and NY will be studied. Other countries will also be studied.
Students will first be assigned a multimedia research project on artists who concentrate
on public art projects. Students will be able to choose from a list of artists.
Students will participate in a group tile project for PHHS. This project will consist of
different face tiles hung together on a large board that will be displayed in the hallways of
Pascack Hills High School. Each student will be responsible for creating an interesting,
unique, imaginative, or realistic face out of clay.
Teapot
Teacher will show examples of teapots throughout history and from different cultures.
Tea culture / trade should be discussed.
Students will be required to make one teapot that includes a spout, lid, and a decorative
handle. The teapots design should reflect its shape, form and function in a highly stylized
manner. Students will have the option to make the teapot using wheel throwing
techniques or hand-building techniques.
Depending on time, students may be required to make a set of two matching tea cups.
Story Telling Plate
Students learn to make story telling plates based on the artist David Stabley’s technique.
The lesson incorporates art history, aesthetics, and criticism with hands on activity. The
lesson focuses on various ceramic techniques and important composition and design
elements essential to creating a uniquely designed and self-expressive plate.
Chinese Bronze Vessels
Students will learn to make Chinese Bronze vessels using coil or slab-built clay ceramic
techniques. Students can also throw parts of the vessel on the wheel and attach them
through hand building techniques. An overview of the history of Chinese Bronze Vessels
will be presented with various examples show to the student. Hopefully a trip to the
Metropolitan Museum of Art can be fit in during this lesson. Students will make a vessel
that is designed to hold something of value to them. Students should use apply their own
personal ideas and experiences to the creating of their vessel.
Mugs
Create a set of four mugs that share a common theme. Each mug should be the same
height and width. Mugs can be hand-built or created the wheel.
Architectural Clay Dwellings
Students will learn to make whimsical houses using slab-built ceramic techniques.
Teacher will present a brief history of architecture and the significance and variety of
dwellings. The Chinese Western Han Dynasty and their connecting to houses will be
discussed. They created tomb offerings that were clay models of their temples and houses
that included animals and furnishings. It was their way of taking a piece of their everyday
life with them in the afterlife.
Students will participate in a class discussion about how the house is an important symbol
in art. Students will be asked the following questions: What type of house structure do
they want to make? What will the shape the walls be? Windows? Roof? How many
doors? Does your house have a theme? Is it in the country, city or an imaginative place?
Do people or animals live there?
After the students drawing is approved, students will create templates from poster board
that they will use to cut out the clay.
Plant Sculpture
Students are required to bring a small plant to class. This plant is the main influence for
this project. Students will create a clay sculpture that is designed and inspired by the plant
but that will also hold the plant. Students may create the sculpture using any of the
techniques learned.