Lessons and Student Work
K
Color Mixing Game
In this lesson, students learned how to mix secondary colors using the three primary colors. We did the activity as a "game," and students rotated to different stations around the room when music stopped. They used different mark-making tools such as toothbrushes, sponges, forks, and paint brushes to collaboratively mix tempera paint on large pieces of paper. The painted paper was ripped up, and students made their own collages and worked together to put the colors into a color wheel.
1+2
Pinch Pots
Week 1: Students learned how to create a pinch pot, and how to add details to it using texture tools and pinching and pulling the clay. Students created their own pinch pots, exploring the pinch pot form to create a unique design.
Week 2: Students glazed their pinch pots with underglaze and looked at work by contemporary artists.
Week 3: Students photographed their pinch pots and labeled them for the art show.
Students were asked questions such as: “What is an element of art you notice in this artist’s work?” “Which piece is your favorite and why?” “How do you think the artist made this?”
3+4
Coil Pots
In this project, third and fourth grade students were introduced to the technique of coil pottery. The first couple of weeks were spent learning how to roll a coil, score and slip, and smooth coils together. Once their coil pots had three layers of coils, they could: continue building their coil pot, adding "fancy" coils or other details as they saw fit; or, create a small clay project of their choice.
