1. Art Docent Program
    2. Everett Public Schools





    Art Docent Program





    Everett Public Schools


          Teaching Clay



     

     

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    Time:

    Allow plenty of lead time for clay projects, especially if they are being produced for a special occasion. Give yourself at least 3-4 weeks from start to your estimated completion date.

     

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    Class Time on Projects:

    Work time on clay projects should be limited. Primary children in particular, tend to overwork their clay and ruin their projects as a result.

     
    Grades K-2 Projects should be done in one sitting, ranging from 15-40 minutes of work time.

    Take their projects as the finish without allowing time for further refinement to prevent overworking the clay.

    Provide water sparingly, if at all.
    Grades 3-5 Can work for extended periods or days.

    Carefully cover clay overnight to prevent drying.


     

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    Drying Time:

    As children completed their projects, set them aside to dry gradually under plastic sheets or bags.
    · Slower draying time will result in less cracking and breakage.
    · Clay projects with attachments should be wrapped tightly for 24 hours, and then dried out gradually to minimize cracking and breakage.
    · Make sure that no clay project is more than three quarters to one inch think in any one place.


    Since unfired clay (greenware) is very fragile before firing, store projects for drying directly on the cart used to wheel them to the kiln in an area where they will not be disturbed. The less handling greenware undergoes, the more likely it will stay in tack and unbroken before firing.

     

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    Glazing:

    When projects are finished, they should be ‘bisque-fired’ in the kiln before glazing. This will help prepare the clay surface to accept the glaze and minimize further explosions/breakage during glaze firing. Glaze is most easily applied by children with small sponges/pieces of sponge. Take care that glaze is kept off the bottom of the pot or any surface that will contact the kiln. Glaze that touches the kiln or kiln shelves will fuse to them during firing.

     

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    Teaching Clay

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    Sequencing Experiences with Clay in the Elementary Classroom

     
    Suggested Grade Level
    Pinch/Modeling and Sculptural Constructions
    Slab Constructions
    Coil Constructions
    Skills/Techniques
    Kindergarten
    		Animal sculptures – emphasis on simple forms such as turtles, bears, birds, pigs, etc.

     

    Pinch pots.     		Cookie cutter projects:

    Wind Chimes/Pendants with stamped textural designs.     		Rolling coil ‘snakes’ creating coasters, spook rests or flowers. Basic manipulations: rolling slabs and balls, pinching, poking, rolling, pulling and pressing.

     

    Texturing clay by stamping, drawing, poking, etc.
    1st Grade
    		Same as above.

    Group sculptures – farms, zoos, etc.     		Tiles with textured or painted decorations (leaves/shells).

    Wall hung pockets.

          		Small bowl with one or two stacked coils.

    Making textured beads     		Texturing, blending and making clay additions to form.

    Cutting out clay shapes with a tool.

    Controlling coil shape and size.
    2nd Grade
    		Animal sculptures with more extended forms and using additive features.

    Combining slab and coil techniques in sculpture.     		Slab vases – rolled around a cardboard tube.

    Slab constructed animal forms.     		Attaching handles to coiled constructions.

    Simple coiled animals molded over paper tubes.     		Rolling a slab between two flat sticks.

    Using water to smooth sides and edges.

    Making attachments, varying coil shapes.
    3rd Grade
    		Additive sculpture using a variety of construction methods.

    Joining pinch post to make sculptural forms.     		Hump/drape molded slab bowls with applied textures and added foot attached. Coiled forms created in a mold/bowl. Adding features and attachments with slurry/slip. Controlling moisture in the clay.
    4th Grade
    		Subtractive sculpture – relief projects. Clay masks, fish or figures based on slab vase form, attachments made with slurry and slip. Coil pot made by blending coils together – up to 4” in height. Blending coils, making attachment with slip./slurry.

    Planning constructions and construction methods.

    Controlling moisture.
    5th Grade
    		Using additive and subtractive methods.

    Smoothing and finishing surfaces, incorporating a variety of textures.     		Clay boxes/containers Adding coil attachments of twisted or braided clay. Planned construction of complex forms using a variety of methods.

    Controlling moisture.


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    Recommended Tools and Tips

     
    Tool Types Uses
    Low-fire Clay Terra Cotta (fires brown)

    Wolf Creek (first white)     		 
    Washable Desk Cover Canvas

    Sheeting

    Laminated paper     		Keeps desk clean.
    Clay Modeling Tools Can also use:

    Craft sticks

    Pencils

    Safe kitchen cutlery

    Old Combs

          		Scoring

    Texturing

    Piercing

    Smoothing

    Making attachments.
    Sponge Small pieces of sponge

    Large Sponges for Clean-up

          		Applying glaze or slurry

     
    Other found Objects Some examples:

    Legos

    Forks

    Feathers

    Pieces of Rubber sole form a shoe     		Adding texture
    Rolling Pins Can also use:

    Plastic Pipe

    Wooden Curtain Rods     		Rolling
    String or Wire  Cutting clay from the block
    Sinks or Buckets  Washing and Cleaning-up
    Glaze Low-fire glazes labeled for cone range 06-04 for brighter colors   

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