Ceramics Elective: Spring 2024!

 

Ceramics is a favorite elective the students always ask me about at the end of the year and at the beginning of the year! "Will you teach ceramics again next year?" "I want to take ceramics next year!" Creating pinch pots, coil pots, dragons and so much more with clay builds so many skills in our students. From fine motor skills, to following directions (especially to score and slip!), students are growing and gaining confidence in an art and skill most of them have not experienced. 

I began teaching the ceramics elective several years ago and there are a few items that we always create every time! We usually start with pinch pots as they are pretty simple for beginners. Then, we move on to coil pots where students learn how to build the base, the importance of scoring and slipping, and the different ways they can build their coils. I've also done a pumpkin pinch pot the past few years where students follow along as we start in a similar way as making a pinch pot but then we bring the sides around to close in our pinch pot to be round and pumpkin shaped. 

Another favorite is the ceramic dragons! We have made one every year and I have students who have had the ceramics elective for three years in a row so have a collection of 2 or 3 dragons! They have even commented on how their dragons improved the second or third time they created one! 

I like to have students create something different each time as well. Last year, we created a weaved clay basket which was more of a challenge. We did this at the end of the quarter after students had more experience working with clay. This year, students made a small clay tile and when leatherhard (dried for 24 hours), they carved their favorite Bible story and/or verse into the clay. Most of these have been bisque (first firing) and students will begin painting them on Tuesday before they are fired again. Finally, our last project were some clay roses which were a one day project. They look amazing and after they get bisque fired, students will paint them as well. 

I have a short video at the end of this post to show you some of the projects students have been busy creating this past quarter. Scroll on down to check it out!