Course of Study

MT. DIABLO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT COURSE OF STUDY

COURSE TITLE: CERAMICS 1

COURSE NUMBER: 4250

DEPARTMENT: ART / VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

GRADE LEVEL(S): 9-12

CREDITS PER SEMESTER: 5

LENGTH OF COURSE: One Year

REQUIRED OR ELECTIVE: Elective-This course fulfills the one-year Fine Arts requirement and the U.C. / C.S.U. “f” requirement

BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPTION: February, 2001 COURSE DESCRIPTION

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Ceramics I is a class that introduces students to the fundamentals and principles of the visual arts and is open to any student in grades 9-12. The history and criticism of visual arts are presented through the use of projects, lectures, films and slides. This class provides a basic understanding of how to see, evaluate and interpret experience through a variety of media. Basic tools and techniques* are explained, demonstrated and practiced to promote creative expression through active student participation. This class is designed for all students with or without previous experience in the visual arts and can prepare students for more advanced classes.

*techniques are pinch, coil, slab, wheel, sculpture, decorating, and glazing works made of clay.

COURSE OUTLINE

1. MAJOR GOALS

The fundamental components of instruction in the visual and performing arts are artistic perception, creative expression, historical and cultural context, heritage, aesthetic valuing, connections, relations, and applications.

The following goals relate to these components:

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  1.1 To develop abilities to perceive and describe visual qualities and how they are organized to evoke aesthetic responses to works of art, nature, and the everyday environment

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  1.2 To acquire skills to create, represent and interpret ideas and feelings through visual art media while utilizing the language and structure of art

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  1.3 To become informed about artistic accomplishments both historically and cross- culturally while identifying the variety of ways artists express personal beliefs and social values

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  1.4 To acquire personal criteria for making aesthetic judgements by studying about the form, content, technique, style, and purpose of varied works of visual art

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  1.5 To integrate skills and experience gained within the ceramics discipline and to apply these to other art media, subject areas, career pursuits, and life contexts
  

2. PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

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  2.1 Describe sensory characteristics in works of art, nature, and the everyday environment

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  2.2 Distinguish between sensory, formal, expressive and technical properties in works of art, ranging across tribal, folk, and commercial and fine art forms

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  2.3 Discuss cultural values between sign, symbol, and metaphor as they relate to the visual arts and aesthetic perception

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  2.4 Compare the possibilities and limitations of ceramics with those of other visual art media

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  2.5 Acquire techniques for controlling ceramic media for expressive purposes

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  2.6 Utilize visual elements – line, shape, texture, value, color, form, space – to create a sense of static or dynamic balance, unity, dominance and implied movement and rhythm

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  2.7 Create images and forms which range from realistic to nonobjective, and from non-utilitarian to strictly functional

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  2.8 Review historic visual art works both chronologically and thematically, from prehistoric to contemporary periods, contrasting similarities and difference in subject and theme

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  2.9 Identify visual art works associated with different cultures and observe how they function function to express particular ideas, philosophies, values and conventions

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  2.10 Discuss works of visual art that were created during the same period as a piece of literature, poetry or music and identify thematic and structural similarities

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  2.11 Describe in oral and written form, sensory, formal and expressive properties in one’s own works, the works of others and established visual works of art

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  2.12 Evaluate works of visual art in relation to: how well media are controlled, how well the organization translates into pleasurable feelings or the extend to which the art creates a vivid impression, message or an emotive mood

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  2.13 Discuss various theories for creating and comprehending the visual arts

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  2.14 Discover career possibilities in the field of ceramics

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  2.15 Understand ceramic studio hazards and demonstrate proper safety procedures and body mechanics (proper lifting, throwing and wedging, with attention to wrists and back
  

3. CONTENT OUTLINE

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  3.1 Aesthetic Perception – Visual and Tactile

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    3.1.1 Design elements

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    3.1.2 Underlying structures

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    3.1.3 Visual characteristics

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    3.1.4 Variety in visual and tactile characteristics

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    3.1.5 Visual and tactile characteristics

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    3.1.6 Aesthetical visual and tactile characteristics

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    3.1.7 Aesthetic perceptions
    

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  3.2 Creative Expression – Artistic Knowledge and Skills

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    3.2.1 Artistic skills

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    3.2.2 Design elements and principles

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    3.2.3 Two-dimensional qualities

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    3.2.4 Three-dimensional qualities
    

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  3.3 Visual Arts Heritage – Historical and Cultural

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    3.3.1 Cultural themes

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    3.3.2 Cultural styles

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    3.3.3 Creative process

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    3.3.4 The artist’s role

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  3.3.5 The function of visual arts in the community

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  3.3.6 Visual arts of world cultures

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  3.3.7 Visual arts in contemporary culture as recreation or vocation
  

3.4 Aesthetic Valuing – Viewing and Reviewing

3.4.1 Observation

3.4.2 Recognition

3.4.3 Judgement

3.4.4 Comment

4. TIME ESTIMATES

4.1 The approach used in Ceramics I stresses structured experiences of varying length. The four components listed are interwoven into the art activities within the course

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  4.1.1 Aesthetic Perception – Visual and Tactile: 30% of class time

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  4.1.2 Creative Expression – Artistic Knowledge and Skills: 50% of class time

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  4.1.3 Visual Arts Heritage – Historical and Cultural: 10% of class time

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  4.1.4 Aesthetic Valuing – Viewing and Reviewing: 10% of class time
  

5. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

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  5.1 Art resource books
  5.2 Art magazines
  5.3 Art films
  5.4 Art slides
  5.5 Art reproductions

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  5.6 Three-dimensional art media for:
  
  5.6.1 Clays

5.6.2 Ceramic finishing means

5.7 Art equipment:

5.7.1 Clay

5.7.2 Ceramic finishing means

6. EVALUATION OF STUDENT PROGRESS

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  6.1 Demonstration of improved skill with art forms

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  6.2 Demonstration of artistic expression

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  6.3 Written and verbal tests

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  6.4 Student evaluations of art works
  

Committee Members:

Jennifer Moore, Lesley Jensen, Melissa Boyd, Clare Hope, Nicky Royce, Charleen Lohman, Evie Groch

Clayton Valley High School, College Park High School, Concord High School,

Mt. Diablo High School, Northgate High School, Ygnacio Valley High School, Curriculum Specialist