Ridgefield Public Schools

Advanced Ceramic Projects - High School

Advanced Ceramics Projects is designed for highly motivated students who cannot keep their hands out of clay. Students develop individual units to investigate each quarter. Surface decoration, glaze formulation, wheel throwing, hand building, sculpting and working with porcelain are some examples of areas of concentration. Students also begin to develop a personal approach to their ceramic work.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

How are conceptual ideas translated into three-dimensional ceramic forms?
How do we use ceramic materials in an environmentally conscious way?

Space, Form, Volume (week 1)

FOCUS QUESTIONS

What are space, shape, form and volume?
How does architecture and sculpture define space?

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

DEVELOPING AN UNDERSTANDING The student will . . .

explore the medium of clay to create forms which demonstrate an understanding of space, shape, form and volume.

DEVELOPING AN INTERPRETATION The student will . . .

Lesson Option 1 - Space, Shape, Form Volume

create a ceramic work comprised of several sculptural elements.

Objectives

demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of space, shape, form and volume.
identify the artists: Richard Serra, Frank Gehry, and Chris Gustin with respect for their use of space, shape, form and volume.

Examining the Content

create a list of verbs of projected action (to fold, to crease, to tear, etc.).
use the verb list to construct elements (pinched clay).
assemble the elements to create a larger form.
create a piece that is visually stimulating.
create a piece that is well crafted.

Lesson Option 2 - Stacked forms

create a form comprised of at least three wheel pieces.

Objectives

explore the work of Vernon Smith and Woody Hughes.
create at least three pots which fit together weld three pots together.

Examining the Content

create a stacked form of at least three wheel pieces.
assemble the elements to create a larger form.
create a piece that is visually stimulating.
create a piece that is well crafted.

Lesson Option 3 - Altered Wheel Pieces

create a form that was thrown on the wheel and altered by folding, cutting, darting or paddling.

Objectives

explore the work of Woody Hughes.
create a wheel piece which has been altered.

Examining the Content

create at least three preliminary drawings for this work.
create a wheel piece that has been altered(folded, cut, darted, paddled).
create a piece that is visually stimulating.
create a piece that is well crafted.

Lesson Option 4 - Extruded Forms

create a form comprised of extruded elements.

Objectives

explore the book The Extruder Book.
create a ceramic work that is comprised of several extruded forms.

Examining the Content

create at least three preliminary drawings for this work.
demonstrate proficiency in using the extruder.
create a ceramic work comprised of extruded forms.
create a piece that is visually stimulating.
create a piece that is well crafted.

Going Green (Ethical Practices in Ceramics) (week 3)

FOCUS QUESTIONS

How do we use ceramic materials in an environmentally conscious way?
What practices must we employ to maintain a safe and healthy studio environment?

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

DEVELOPING AN UNDERSTANDING The student will . . .

develop an understanding of the importance of being environmentally responsible in the ceramic studio.

DEVELOPING AN INTERPRETATION The student will . . .

Lesson Option 1 - Health and Safety in the Ceramic Studio

employ safe practices in the ceramic studio.

Objectives

establish proper clean-up routines
establish safe habits when using raw materials to make glazes.

Examining the Content

know the location of the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) binder.
clean up his/her workspace appropriately.
wear a dust mask properly when making glazes.
clean up spills in a timely manner.
clean sinks and counters on a rotating basis.

Lesson Option 2 - Firing (Do you love it enough to fire it?)

employ safe and energy efficient habits in firing the electric kilns.

Objectives

demonstrate how to efficiently load bisque and glaze kilns.
establish safe habits when loading and unloading kilns.
identify problems or defects with pottery making them unsuitable for firing.

Examining the Content

know how to load and unload a bisque kiln.
know how to load and unload a glaze kiln.
know how to program a kiln.
know which pots cannot be fired.

Lesson Option 3 - Disposing of Materials/Recycling Materials

recycle clay and dispose of materials properly.

Objectives

demonstrate how to recycle clay.
establish safe habits disposing of materials (unwanted glaze, raw materials).

Examining the Content

recycle at least ten pounds of clay.
demonstrate how to dispose of materials in a safe way.

Line, Color, Texture (week 8)

FOCUS QUESTIONS

How do artists use line, color and texture in artworks?
Can we use line, color and texture in narrative ways or to express an idea?

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

DEVELOPING AN UNDERSTANDING The student will . . .

create a form which includes drawing on the surface.

DEVELOPING AN INTERPRETATION The student will . . .

Lesson Option 1 - Drawing for potters

create a ceramic work comprised of several sculptural elements.

Objectives

explore the work of Matisse, Picasso (pottery), and Rudy Autio.
create some emulations of Matisse’s figurative and portrait drawings.
create a ceramic form using it as a canvas for drawing, lettting the shape of the form suggest the drawing.

Examining the Content

create at least three emulations of Matisse’s drawings.
create a preliminary drawing for project.
create a ceramic form which has drawing on the surface.
create a piece that is visually stimulating and well crafted.

Lesson Option 2 - Slip trailing, intarsio, wax resist techniques

create at least two pieces onto which you use slip trailing, intarsio or wax resist techniques.

Objectives

explore the work of Maureen Mills, Matt Nolan and Ryan McKerley.
create at least two pots which utilize slip trailing, intarsio or wax resist techniques.

Examining the Content

create at least four preliminary designs.
create at least two ceramic forms which utilize slip trailing, intarsio and wax resist techniques.
experiment with at least two of the techniques.
create a piece that is well crafted.

Lesson Option 3 - Telling a story/expressing ideas

create a form which expresses and idea or tells a story.

Objectives

explore the work of Maria Martinez, Matt Nolan and Ron Myers.
create a plan for this ceramic piece.
create a pot which expresses and idea or tells a story.

Examining the Content

create at least two designs for a pot.
create a ceramic piece that tells a story or expresses an idea.
create a piece that is visually stimulating.
create a piece that is well crafted.

Functional Pottery (week 13)

FOCUS QUESTIONS

How have potters throughout history created functional vessels for everyday use?
Why does the creation and use of functional vessels enhance our lives?

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

DEVELOPING AN UNDERSTANDING The student will . . .

explore the medium of clay to create a variety of functional forms.

DEVELOPING AN INTERPRETATION The student will . . .

Lesson Option 1 - Making a dinner plate, soup/salad bowl

create a ceramic work comprised of several sculptural elements.

Objectives

demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of space, shape, form and volume.
identify the artists: Richard Serra, Frank Gehry, and Chris Gustin with respect for their use of space, shape, form and volume.

Examining the Content

create a list of verbs of projected action (to fold, to crease, to tear, etc.).
use the verb list to construct elements (pinched clay).
assemble the elements to create a larger form.
create a piece that is visually stimulating.
create a piece that is well crafted.

Lesson Option 2 - Pouring vessels

create a form comprised of at least three wheel pieces.

Objectives

explore the work of Vernon Smith and Woody Hughes.
create at least three pots which fit together weld three pots together.

Examining the Content

create a stacked form of at least three wheel pieces.
assemble the elements to create a larger form.
create a piece that is visually stimulating.
create a piece that is well crafted.

Lesson Option 3 - Vessels with handles, lids and spouts

create a dinnerware plate and a soup/salad bowl.

Objectives

explore Ancient Greek pottery and the work of Joe McCaffery, Mark Shapiro and other functional potters.
create a dinner plate on the potter’s wheel.
create a soup/salad bowl on the potter’s wheel.

Examining the Content

familiarize themselves with ancient pottery forms and contemporary functional forms.
create a dinner plate.
create a soup/salad bowl.
create a piece that is well crafted.

Report abuse