3rd, 4th, and 5th grade ceramic projects are in full swing. They have been hard at work constructing their pieces and wowing me along the way. I am very pleased with their determination to make things work, even when clay can be an incredibly complicated material.
3rd graders have been busy constructing Monster/Mythical creature cups. The began by sketching out ideas for their cup, and proceeded to build the cup using a slab construction method. For this method, the clay must first be cut down and then rolled out into nice even slabs. Once i cut down the slabs to the desired size per students, they went on to attach their slab to a base they cut out. To attach the cup slab to the base they are required to score and slip the clay in order for it to attach permanently (ask them what scoring and slipping is). Currently the students are attaching features to their cups, like eyes, horns, teeth, etc. Each student's cup is unique and interesting and brings out their individual personalities. Check out examples of what the finished product will look like, and some work in progress shots.
4th graders have been working on an interesting clay slab that incorporates a ceramic frame and a weaving component. The students were introduced to a variety of carving and texturing tools to experiment with prior to working on the frame they designed. The were able to harken back to their zentangling days and pull designs and ideas from previous drawings and doodles and build on that prior knowledge. Many of them are close to finishing carving and adding texture to their pieces now. Once the clay frames are fired in the kiln, the students will glaze them, and we will conclude by adding the radial weaving. I can't wait to see the finished product. Photos below.
The 5th grade students are learning a lot about clay slab construction, as they build their abstract clay sculpture. Students were asked to come up with an abstract sculpture concept using certain size parameters I gave them. They had to consider balance, weight, negative, and positive space, shape, and form. In other words, they had to draw a 2-dimentional drawing of their sculpture to be while thinking 3-dimentionally. What they came up with is so interesting and engaging. The have to build up their sculpture with a front and back section, held together by walls. Their sculptures also have windows or/and tunnels. I am really impressed with them, as this is a project I had only done with 9th graders in the past. But, as always, they have risen to the challenge and are determined to make themselves and me proud. Photos below.
3rd graders have been busy constructing Monster/Mythical creature cups. The began by sketching out ideas for their cup, and proceeded to build the cup using a slab construction method. For this method, the clay must first be cut down and then rolled out into nice even slabs. Once i cut down the slabs to the desired size per students, they went on to attach their slab to a base they cut out. To attach the cup slab to the base they are required to score and slip the clay in order for it to attach permanently (ask them what scoring and slipping is). Currently the students are attaching features to their cups, like eyes, horns, teeth, etc. Each student's cup is unique and interesting and brings out their individual personalities. Check out examples of what the finished product will look like, and some work in progress shots.
4th graders have been working on an interesting clay slab that incorporates a ceramic frame and a weaving component. The students were introduced to a variety of carving and texturing tools to experiment with prior to working on the frame they designed. The were able to harken back to their zentangling days and pull designs and ideas from previous drawings and doodles and build on that prior knowledge. Many of them are close to finishing carving and adding texture to their pieces now. Once the clay frames are fired in the kiln, the students will glaze them, and we will conclude by adding the radial weaving. I can't wait to see the finished product. Photos below.
The 5th grade students are learning a lot about clay slab construction, as they build their abstract clay sculpture. Students were asked to come up with an abstract sculpture concept using certain size parameters I gave them. They had to consider balance, weight, negative, and positive space, shape, and form. In other words, they had to draw a 2-dimentional drawing of their sculpture to be while thinking 3-dimentionally. What they came up with is so interesting and engaging. The have to build up their sculpture with a front and back section, held together by walls. Their sculptures also have windows or/and tunnels. I am really impressed with them, as this is a project I had only done with 9th graders in the past. But, as always, they have risen to the challenge and are determined to make themselves and me proud. Photos below.