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A conversation about using clay as a teaching tool
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Archive for the ‘Lesson Plans’ Category
Wednesday, February 15th, 2012
These bowls are simple to make. We put almost every step in this lesson so you can make one even if you have never worked with clay.
So bring your “I can do it!” attitude and let’s make some bowls!
First things first… Clay dos and don’ts;
Do
- Use water sparingly
- Wipe your hands off on a cloth frequently.
- Be aware of where you are telling the clay to go by noticing the angle between your fingertips and middle knuckles.
- If the table is too high, put your work in your lap (on top of your cloth) or work standing up.
- Allow the dirty water sit so the clay settles, pour the clear water off and put the clay sludge in at trash bag or lined trash container.
Don’t
- Dump clay filled water down the drain (it will clog pipes).
- Put lots of water on your work.
- Do not throw clay (unless you have a potter’s wheel).
- Don’t handle your work carelessly, it will break.
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Start by cutting a slab of clay off of the large “pug”. Use a wire tool, a sturdy string or fishing line
Cut the slab into 4 smaller parts (six if you are working with very young children). Make two (or three) smaller.
Make the larger pieces into balls. Use the palm of your hand. Clay is one place you are allowed to smack loudly!
Start forming your bowl by holding it in one hand as shown. Then use the thumb of your other hand to form the middle hole. Leave it a bit thick at the bottom.
 Here you see the right hand doing the pinching and the left is just holding the piece. Starting at the bottom squeeze a little between thumb and fingers, turn the piece two finger widths and squeeze again. When you have moved all the way around the piece move up a thumbs length and do the process again. Note that the clay is going the way the finger is angled.
 You can repeat the process until the bowl is thick enough to hold it’s own weight and thin enough to “feel right” when you pick it up. This may take some practice. If your piece collapses, carefully crush it without trapping any air inside and make the clay into a ball, wrapping it to use for “decorative sprigs” later.
You now smooth the bowl if you want to. Then use a knife (fettling or butter knife) “to form the “foot”. The “foot” of a bowl helps the bowl sit firmly on the table without rolling.
 The wider the foot, the more stable the bowl. An excessively large foot makes a bowl heavy and can adversely affect the look of the bowl. Here you can clearly see a flat spot is cut at the bottom of the bowl. Trace a square on the flat area, then carefully cut away,starting at the flat spot with the slice narrowing at the curve of your bowl.
 Adding clay pieces to a clay form with slip is called “sprigging”. You will now make decorative elements which will attach to your bowl. Remember, if the sprigging is too heavy the bowl will tip to one side instead of being upright on the foot. One way to make things light is to make them hollow. If you close a form completely, poke a hole in it when you are finish, or the trapped air might break it.
Make your sprigging design, then lay it out without sticking it on. Once you have the “bugs” worked out, it will be time to attach everything.
Make little slices where you wish to attach a piece. This is called scoring. Then place a drop of water on the scored area, do the same with the sprig then press them firmly together. The scoring creates a great deal of surface area, the water creates a way for the clay particles to move easily. The pressure helps them line up and be strong with their new neighbors. The smaller the sprig, the less pressure is required.
Here is a little trick to make your limbs interesting. Apply a little pressure with dull side of the knife, then draw it along, allowing the rope of clay to roll. Do it both ways if you like for a pattern of diamonds or squares..
 Then you set the piece aside to dry. Let it dry for two weeks. If the piece is wet when it is painted the paint will blister. If the piece feels cool to your cheek it needs more drying time.
Paint the whole piece with clear, white, black or red gesso. Let it dry for a day.
Paint your piece carefully, starting on the inside. Take care not to break your sprigs as you work around the piece. Wadded paper towels or foam can be used to lay the piece upside down without damage.
The bowl at the front has had a coat of clear gloss acrylic medium. The bowl at the back has been painted with acrylic craft paint only.
**Click here to view or download a PDF version of this Lesson Plan>>
Tags: bowl, ceramics, classroom, clay, students, teacher, teaching
Posted in Ideas for All Ages, Ideas for Grades K-8, Ideas for the Classroom, Lesson Plans | No Comments »
Sunday, January 29th, 2012
This lesson written by: Rosanne Sloane
  
Lesson Purpose:
We are going to create seed blossoms which we will be able to toss onto abandoned land. Each student will learn about our native wild flowers, choosing a flower they like and writing a brief description on it.
BACKGROUND: When Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon arrived in Florida on Palm Sunday in 1513, he named Florida, La Florida, “land of flowers,” in honor of the Spain’s Easter celebration. There was at that time an abundant wildflowers as far as the eye could see.
As communities grew, native Floridians people and new settlers utilized native wildflowers for a variety of things, from medicine and food to aesthetics. They recognized wildflowers’ places in nature’s hierarchy and their importance in the plant and animal kingdoms.
As years passed with the destruction of natural places in Florida in order to develop modern dwellings such as homes, schools, and businesses, with it’s the once beautiful landscape lost many of its wild flowers. Recognizing the loss of such beauty, many Floridians tried to save the wildflowers within in their own communities.
Florida’s flowers include more than 4,100 kinds of spontaneous occurring plants. There are 2,800 Florida native plants. Florida’s 2,800 native plant list includes trees, shrubs, vines, ferns, grasses and flowering herbaceous species. In the spirit of Lady Bird Johnson’s Highway Beautification Act created in 1965, we are going to help revitalize neglected landscapes with the use of clay and wild flower seeds.
DOWNLOAD: Organic Seed Blossom Lesson Plan>>
Organic Seed Blossom Recipe
DOWNLOAD: Organic Seed Blossom Recipe>>
Makes six ping pong size seed blossom
All materials in this recipe and instructional sheet are cheap or free, easy to find, and are natural and organic.
(Note: Buy seed mixtures of native flowers and plants to your area. Not only will they grow well, they will not crowd out other plants, disrupt bird and insect populations, or do other environmental damage.)
- 1 tablespoon of chili powder as a pest deterrent (optional)
- 1 tablespoon of water
(Add water as needed to make meatloaf like consistency. Water is for forming the clay, do not water seed blossom when finished.)
What you will need for mixing and storing Seed Blossoms:
- Yogurt container with lid
- Empty Egg carton
Instructions:
 Mix 5 parts clay with 1 part compost and 1 part flower seeds into the container. Put 1 tablespoon of water into the mixture. Add water a necessary but make sure not to make your mixture into a goopy sloppy mess!
Knead with hands into a ball, flatten it out like a tube and cut 1” spacing or to desired size. We would recommend wearing latex gloves when rolling the balls, tubes, and making the actual blossom.
 
Take each cut and make into a small ball and place into egg carton to dry.
Place egg carton by a window to help dry. Please allow 3 days to days thoroughly before tossing.
 
Choosing a Site
Choosing a suitable site is as crucial as choosing suitable seeds. Some might view seed blossom tossing as “vandalism.”
Best Site Choice
We want to make sure the land has been orphaned and would be suitable for wild flowers. We want to attract other wild life to help pollinate the wild flowers to be.
Here is a good check list to consider when searching for a site.
- Make sure the site is not a conservation area?
- Make sure the area is not privately owned.
- Make sure the land is not set aside for agricultural purposes.
- Make sure the site is abandoned and can be benefit from the seeds.
- Make sure the site is not a future construction site.
There are some Don’ts that need to be followed:
- Don’t throw seed blossoms at people, animals, buildings, vehicles or windows. Please make sure that nothing or no body can be damaged or harmed by your flying seed blossoms.
- Don’t throw them on land with inadequate growing conditions. If there is sun light and no obvious soil for the plants to anchor themselves causing them to perish.
Don’t use the seed blossoms as a form of aggression or vandalism.
Lesson Resources
Posted in Ideas for All Ages, Ideas for Grades K-8, Ideas for the Classroom, Lesson Plans | No Comments »
Thursday, October 27th, 2011
How To Make A Wild Flower Power Air Dry Clay Tile
Download a PDF of this blog post showing how to create Air Dry Wildflower Tiles>>
Take a 25lb brick of Laguna Mexo-White Self Hardening Clay and cut a 1″ x 12″ x 12″ thick slab of clay.
1. Place the clay on a slab roller canvas or on newspaper to be roller out to a 25” x 30” slab.
2. Roll the clay through the slab roller or under the rolling pin.
 3. Slab the air dry clay until you get to ¼” thick.
4. Once you have a slab ¼” thick you can place a slab mat on top to erase the canvas marks or you can leave them.
5. Please your slab of clay on a clean piece of paper or clean work area.
6. Take a square cookie cutter about 2” x 2”. (If you want larger tiles you can use standard sizes such as 4” x 4” or 6” x 6” or a 8” x 8”.)
7. Cut as many tiles as you can from you 1st slab of 25” x 30” clay.
8. Please your stamp or stencil on top the tiles you have cut out to create the imprint you are creating. Make sure to spray the tile with vegetable oil or talc powder for quick release from the clay.
9. Press down on the stamp evenly or etch out the stencil at this time.
10. Pull back the tile or stencil carefully.
11. Examine the impression.
12. Once you examine the impression, continue stamping.
13. After the tiles have been cut and stamped, designate someone to smooth the edges.
14. You can smooth out any wrinkles or creases on the sides or top at this point.
15. Place tiles on a board to dry for the next three days.
16. Once dried, you can apply acrylic paints, spray paints, glitter, cork, rubber, or any other multi-media material to jazz up the tile.
 
Downloads:
Posted in Ideas for All Ages, Ideas for Grades K-8, Ideas for the Classroom, Lesson Plans | No Comments »
Thursday, August 25th, 2011
 The BirdProject is a very important cause to the Laguna Clay Company. The BP Oil Spill in the Gulf was devastating and we wanted to find a way to give back to the local community. The white ceramic birds inside the soaps are glazed with Laguna Clay Co. blue crackle glaze. We were proud and honored to donate this glaze to Tippy Tippen’s BirdProject. Please enjoy reading and learning about the BirdProject. As always, we would love to hear your thoughts and comments, as well as hear about your personal experiences.
The BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Disaster has destroyed and continues to destroy local culture, our environment, and our wildlife. Both the long-term after effects of this disaster and its ultimate reach are yet unknown. BirdProject’s mission is to raise and maintain public awareness of the Oil Spill and to help provide funding for Environmental Cleanup Initiatives and aid for affected wildlife.
BirdProject provides work to the area by teaming exclusively with local artists, suppliers, and manufacturers and building positive partnerships between a range of New Orleans communities. Working with community and education based Operation Reach helps highlight this important issue in the minds of teenagers as well as teaching new skills in both green technologies and entrepreneurial creativity.
 BirdProject is manufacturing an exclusive edition of black, bird-shaped glycerin soaps. Each soap contains a white, ceramic bird, made from Louisiana Clay and Laguna Clay Co. glazes, which remains as a keepsake once the outer soap has been washed away. The use of Glycerin – a biodiesel by-product – helps bolster awareness of green energy initiatives while emphasizing smart usage of manufacturing waste.
Through the daily act of washing, you will eventually free the clean, white, ceramic birds inside – potent symbols of restoration and recovery. The soap is shaped to be cradled in your hand and is a powerful representation of all creatures affected by the spill.
 The soaps are manufactured from natural, locally sourced ingredients: biodiesel glycerin from Operation Reach, fair trade olive oil, aloe, activated black charcoal, and a light cypress scent – reminiscent of Louisianan bayous.
BirdProject’s production model is highly scalable, enabling cost-effective runs for both local and national retail outlets. 30% of the retail price will be donated directly to the Gulf Restoration network and the IBRRC. Profits will provide funding for follow up products including raising funding/awareness for wetland restoration.
 BirdProject is the launch product from, MATTER L3C, a new design company based in New Orleans. About MATTER: Eco-intelligence, creativity, and innovative philanthropy unite at MATTER L3C: an industrial design & consulting studio based in New Orleans, uniquely focused on raising awareness and funding initiatives that advance social change. A portion of all proceeds flow to causes that impact the health, happiness, and sustainability of our communities both locally and for our neighbors around the world. MATTER L3C helps to make the world a better place by creating products and collaborations that matter.
Since my relocation to New Orleans from Brooklyn, NY to help in oil spill cleanup I have had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer for Audubon. This day was amazing in the ability to see so many healthy pelicans in an oil-free natural, habitat and a massive thank you to Lexie Montgomery, the incredible Audubon Volunteer Coordinator and new friend.
  
** Below are photos of the making of these lovely birds… Click on the image to see the process in greater detail **
In The News:
**BirdProject’s Bird-Shaped Soaps Remind Us Gulf Spill Cleanup Isn’t Over**
By: Maria Matis, with www.ecouterre.com 07/18/11
“The symbolism of the soap extends beyond its shape. Intentionally black to represent oil, each bird washes away to reveal a white ceramic version inside. “The white ceramic bird represents hope, and is to remain as a symbol of progress and recovery,” Tippens tells Ecouterre. Intentionally black to represent oil, each one washes away to reveal a white ceramic version inside.”
**Symbolic soaps raise funds for oil-spill cleanup operation**
By: www.springwise.com, 07/11/11
“Symbolically, the soaps represent the washing of a bird whilst simultaneously linking that process to human activity as they wash themselves. A further function of the design is that it has helped raise awareness for a rescue operation at a time when many feel swamped by calls to give to worthy causes. Those trying to achieve similar goals, time to start thinking creatively!”
Tags: BirdProject, BirdProject soap, classroom, Gulf BP Oil Spill, Tippy Tippens
Posted in Ceramics and Fundraising, Ceramics Around the World, Ideas for All Ages, Lesson Plans, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 16th, 2011
This Lesson Plan uses Fired-On Images along with Laguna Clay and Creatable Colors to create unique and beautiful tiles to be enjoyed by all!
 Click Here to download the complete printable step-by-step intstructions for this Lesson Plan – (PDF)
Click Here to download the actual Fruit image used for this Lesson Plan (PDF)
Note: We have created links to help you find the exact products used in this Lesson Plan. Simply click on the highlighted material you are interested in and you will be directed to our site if you would like to learn more about the materials or purchase them.
Materials
Option 1: Color is added as Under-glaze (Majolica style)
A. Size image and print out on plain paper to trace or directly onto Clay Carbon
B. Paint bisque tile LM362 with 2 coats white EM2101 Laguna Creatable Color Glaze, let dry
C. Trace image on to dried white glaze surface
D. Paint in the lines with 1-2 coats Creatable Colors assorted colors (this fruit crate label sample used Red, Medium Blue, Green, Yellow and Orange).
Decorating Hints:
- Print the image onto a sheet of Laser compatible transparency film. That way you can hold the image over the tile as you paint to make sure the color is exactly where you want it.
- Use masking tape or liquid masking fluid for crisp lines and edges.
E. Fire to Cone 06
F. Print image onto Fired-On Images MS Transfer Paper using ANY Canon or HP Black-only Laser printer or copier.
Printing Hints:
- Print on the glossy side of the paper, one sheet at a time, placing in the manual feed slot of the printer.
- HP or Canon Black-only Multifunction Laser Printer/Photocopiers can be used as standalone.
- Fired-On transfer printers without the need of a computer hook up. You just put the image onto the copier platen and print directly onto the transfer paper.
G. Cut out image close to edges
H. Soak in warm water
I. Lift image with backing paper intact and place on tile using one hand hold film down and carefully pull out backing paper from underneath with the other hand
J. Line up with image push water out with paper towel or soft brayer.
K. Fire to cone 06
Option 2: Color is added as Over-glaze
1. Paint bisque tile LM362 with 2-3 coats white EM 2101 Laguna Creatable Color Glaze
2. Fire to cone 06
3. Print sized image onto decal paper using any HP or Canon Black-only printer
4. Cut out close to image edges
5. Soak in warm water
6. Pick up with backing paper intact and lay onto tile …using one hand hold down film and pull out backing paper with the other hand
7. Push water from center outward with paper towel or soft brayer
8. Fire to Cone 06
9. Paint in the lines with assorted Creatable Colors Glaze
Over-glaze Hints:
- Over-glazing onto a smooth pre-glazed surface can be tricky if the glaze or brush is too wet.
- Use a dry brush with glaze that is the consistency of paste (put some liquid glaze on a scrap glazed tile and let dry until the right consistency)
10. Fire again to cone 06
Stoneware Instructions (Cone 5 Glaze)
Materials
Overglaze Method:
A. Paint your cone 5 ware with 2 -3 coats Versa 5 White Glaze MS301
B. Fire to Cone 5
C. Apply Transfer as instructed
D. Fire to Cone 06
E. Paint in the lines with assorted Creatable Colors Glazes
F. Fire to cone 06.
Stoneware Hints:
- It is possible to do the under-glaze image decorating method with Versa 5 Glazes. Just use the white as your Majolica base coat and Versa 5 colored glazes as your coloring medium.
- Keep in mind that Stoneware cone 5 glazes shrink and so the image will need to be resized before decal application.
More Info and Where to Buy Hints:
Tags: arts, ceramics, Creatable Colors, students, teacher, teaching, tiles
Posted in Ideas for the Classroom, Lesson Plans, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Thursday, March 10th, 2011
This Lesson Plan is a collaborative effort made from Laguna B-Mix Clay with Grog and AMACO Velvet Underglazes and Clear Glaze.
 Please enjoy this very imaginative Ceramic Twizzler® Tile Mural Lesson Plan by clicking on the links below. Stephanie Osser developed this Twizzler® Lesson Plan after attending a ceramics workshop for faculty and staff at Babson College. She is the studio manager/ceramic artist-in-residence for a small ceramics program based at Babson College, a business school, in Wellesley, MA. She comes to ceramics from her career as a book illustrator. Her forte is bas-relief tile and sculpture and is currently involved in a commissioned bas-relief group project for the Cambridge Hospital Alliance in Cambridge, MA. Stephanie has also been chosen to be a resident artist in Denmark this summer for six weeks at an international ceramic research center called Guldagergaard. There she will work on her own narrative work in bas-relief tiles and sculpute and new technology in silk screen and decaling her drawings on clay. To learn more about Stephanie and her current and past projects, visit her personal website at: www.stephanieosser.com
- Click here to view the Step-by-Step Lesson Plan instructions on Laguna Clay’s website
- Click here to download a Printable (PDF) version of the Step-by-Step Lesson Plan instructions
Tags: ceramics, classroom, glaze, Stephani Osser, students, teaching, tiles, workshop
Posted in Ideas for All Ages, Ideas for Grades K-8, Ideas for the Classroom, Lesson Plans, Reflections from a Ceramic Event, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, January 3rd, 2011
Objective: Use Laguna Paper Clay to create a collaborative classroom “Clan” Totem Pole, without firing in a kiln.
Presented By: David D. Gilbaugh, and Jennie Koons
Grade Levels: 3 & 4 (Adaptable K-12)
Background Information: The traditional use of Totem Poles is an ancient one held by many cultures around the world. Totems serve as a visual statement and record to commemorate and share the cultural history of a people. Totems come in four types including Crests, History, Legends, and Memorials. (Single lesson plan).
NOTE: Magic Water was mentioned in the CAEA Paper Clay Workshop.
Magic Water, product # IP238-G
Everyone needs some “magic” in their day. Laguna Clay makes Magic Water for the ease of those who do not have a full selection of raw materials in their studio. Use Magic Water to enhance clays ability to bond leather hard to dry clay pieces together and to create Magic mud to mend cracks in bone dry or bisque ware (a small addition of paper to regular clays will also aid in this process).
CLICK HERE to Download the Totem Pole Lesson Plan
 
Tags: ceramics, classroom, david gilbaugh, Jennie Koons, students, totem pole, workshop
Posted in Ceramics Around the World, Great Ceramic Artists, Ideas for All Ages, Ideas for Grades K-8, Ideas for the Classroom, Lesson Plans, Reflections from a Ceramic Event, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 12th, 2010
Lesson Purpose: With the rapid rate of development in Florida, protecting endangered species and their habitat is becoming more critical. Some of the animals in the State of Florida have become extinct or are near extinction. This lesson plan will help promote and ensure the just and kind treatment of animals. Through artistic expression such as clay, students will be able to share and display their knowledge about Florida’s Endangered Species so that they can help improve the quality of the lives of these animals.
Note: This lesson plan can be applied to any state! Here is a link to find out more information about endangered species in your local state.
This lesson was written by: Rosanne Sloan, Sales Associate for Axner Pottery and Ceramic Supply Co.
Lesson Grade: 5
Lesson Plan Worksheets
<Endangered Species Lesson>
<Endangered Species Science Quest>
Tags: arts, ceramics, classroom, clay, conference, FAEA, Rosanne Sloane, Self-Hardening Clay, students, teaching
Posted in Ideas for All Ages, Ideas for Grades K-8, Ideas for the Classroom, Lesson Plans, Teaching Research, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 12th, 2010
Lesson Purpose: With the rapid rate of development in Florida, protecting endangered species and their habitat is becoming more critical. Some of the animals in the State of Florida have become extinct or are near extinction. This list of endangered species will help to promote and ensure the just and kind treatment of animals. Through artistic expression such as clay, students will be able to share and display their knowledge about Florida’s Endangered Species so that they can help improve the quality of the lives of these animals.
Note: This lesson plan can be applied to any state! Here is a link to find out more information about endangered species in your local state.
This lesson plan was written by: Rosanne Sloane, Sales Associate for Axner Pottery and Ceramic Supply Co.
Lesson Grade: 5
Lesson Plan Worksheets
<Air Dry Tile Relief Lesson Plan>
<Florida Endangered Species List for the Lesson Plan>
Sample photos of the step-by-step process of the tile relief project
Laguna Mexo White Clay Featured
Tags: ceramics, classroom, clay, conference, FAEA, Rosanne Sloane, Self-Hardening Clay, students, teaching
Posted in Ideas for All Ages, Ideas for Grades K-8, Ideas for the Classroom, Lesson Plans, Teaching Research, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, October 11th, 2010
This lesson plan will be demonstrated at the Florida Art Education Association 2010 Conference by Rosanne Sloane and Joyce Go on October 14, 2010 at 4:45pm located in Forum East 2.
2010 FAEA CONFERENCE INFORMATION
October 14 – 16
The Florida Hotel
Orlando, Florida
NOTE: This figurative sculptural lesson plan includes three worksheets and several wonderful pictures to help you follow along. To view the worksheets, click on the links provided below. To view the photographs in full size, simply click on the individual photograph. The clay used in this lesson plan is Laguna Mexo White clay (click on this link for details). Enjoy!
LESSON PLAN INFORMATION
Figurative sculpting in Laguna Mexo Clay requires no kiln as it’s self-hardening!
Use a twist tie or pipe cleaner armature to teach about animals, emotion, skeletons (wow, spooky), figurative proportion, or basic 3-D design. When the armature is refined, use Laguna Mexo Clay to flesh out the sculpture. The pieces then air dry. Construct your own masterpiece to see how special non-toxic additives in the clay make it dry into a durable object that your kids can display with pride!
LESSON PLAN WORKSHEETS
1) Evaluation rubric for the figure sculpture
2) Keep your Eye on the Work worksheet-1
3) The figure sculpture art style worksheet
 
Tags: arts, classroom, conference, FAEA, Rosanne Sloane, Self-Hardening Clay, students, teaching, twist tie, workshop
Posted in Ideas for All Ages, Ideas for the Classroom, Lesson Plans, Uncategorized | No Comments »
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