Ceramic Planters

Sculpting Planter Vessels with Clay 
5th Grade 
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Students will work with clay to create vessels designed to hold plans. They will practice clay techniques of pinch pot construction, rolling and attaching coils, slab construction, surface design and glazing.

I. Topic: Clay Planters
Content Area  

• Big idea: Art making and sustainability
  

Content Statement/Concept Statement

• Students will learn to sculpt vessels with clay using various ceramic skills and techniques
  

II. Objectives / Expected Learner Outcomes

• Students will learn slipping + scoring, pinch pots, and coil construction
  
• Students will become familiar with clay tools: sponge, rib, fork, trimming tools
  
• Students will learn about how to plant and care for a plant, including what specific environmental needs it has
  

III. Standards of Education
Related Virginia Visual Arts Standards of Learning

• 5.2 The student will execute and complete works of art with attention to detail and craftsmanship.
  
• 5.10 The student will create sculpture in the round, high relief, or bas-relief, using three-dimensional media, including clay.
  
• 5.11 The student will combine various craft techniques in works of art. (Wedge, pinch, coil, slip and score)
  
• 5.16 The student will describe various commercial art careers. (Professional ceramic artist)
  
• 5.20 The student will use specific criteria to evaluate a finished product (use of techniques)
  

IV. Student Group Targeted

• 5
  
• The majority of students are black, from Richmond, VA. A few have emotional and behavioral issues. Most have been in Blackwell for multiple years and and are used to an established set of art room rules and guidelines
  

Prerequisite skills/knowledge

• Students need to have fine motor skills to work with clay. Prior experience with clay is not crucial but will make for more advanced skill capabilities.  
  

V. Time Required
6 40 minute sessions

SESSION 1
Objective: Students will practice clay techniques
SOLs

• 5.10 The student will create sculpture in the round, high relief, or bas-relief, using three-dimensional media, including clay.
  
• 5.11 The student will combine various craft techniques in works of art. (Wedge, pinch, coil, slip and score)
  
• 5.20 The student will use specific criteria to evaluate a finished product (use of techniques)
  

VI. Materials and Resources

• Clay (already portioned for kids)
  
• Clay tools: water, trimming tools, ribs
  
• small cups for water
  
• damp rags of wiping hands
  
• Baby wipes
  
• Trash bags
  
• Plastic trays / meat trays for storage
  

VII. Itinerary and Instructional Strategies
Key terms/vocabulary to be introduced

• ceramic
  
• planter
  
• clay tools: rib, sponge, trimming tools, fork
  
• slip, wet clay, leather hard, bone dry
  
• wedge
  
• coil
  
• pinch pot
  
• slip and score
  

Discussion/Questioning Strategies

• What does ceramic mean? What are some ceramic objects in your life?
  
• What do you know about clay already? What is it? What is it like and not like?
  
• We will be creating ceramic planters. What is a planter? What does it need?
  

Guided practice

• demo a few clay techniques (slipping and scoring, coil, pinch pot)
  

Student independent practice/activity

• Students will replicate each technique that I've demo'd at least once. This work is meant to be practice, not something to keep. If students make something they’re really into, they can save it to build upon next class.
  
  • wedging clay
    
  • pinch pot
    
  • roll a coil
    
  • slip and score it to something
    
  • blend the coils into one another
    

Checking for understanding

• discussion
  
• checking in with individual students as they work with clay
  

Time flow

• 5 - discussion
  
• 5 - demo
  
• 25 - practice clay techniques
  
• 5 - clean up
  

Closure

• Review vocab: pinch pot, coil, slip + score
  
• Discuss what techniques were the easiest, what were the most challenging, what do you still want to know how to do?
  

SESSION 2
Objective: Students will create a ceramic planter using the techniques covered last class
SOLs

• 5.2 The student will execute and complete works of art with attention to detail and craftsmanship.
  
• 5.10 The student will create sculpture in the round, high relief, or bas-relief, using three-dimensional media, including clay.
  
• 5.11 The student will combine various craft techniques in works of art. (Wedge, pinch, coil, slip and score)
  
• 5.16 The student will describe various commercial art careers. (Professional ceramic artist)
  
• 5.20 The student will use specific criteria to evaluate a finished product (use of techniques)
  

VI. Materials and Resources

• clay and clay tools
  

VII. Itinerary and Instructional Strategies
Key terms/vocabulary to be reviewed

• Review: Wedge, coil, pinch pot, slip and score
  
• New: slab
  

Questioning strategies/discussion

• Review techniques we covered last class. Have students list and describe.
  
• Show a short slideshow of ceramic planters for inspiration
  
  • Talk about elements on the examples and how we can add those toward the end
    

Guided Practice

• I will demo starting with a slab base instead of a pinch pot. Students may use either technique for their planter.
  
• Students will get a ball of clay, create their base then we will attach and smooth our first coil together.
  

Student independent practice/activity

• Students will have the remainder of class to work on their planters. I will walk around to address specific design or technical issues.
  

Checking for understanding

• discussion
  
• checking in with individual students as they work with clay
  
• I will walk around and talk with students about their homework: what idea they have for their planter. How can they make a pot that talks about deforestation
  

Clean up

• Students will be given a plastic bag to carefully wrap their clay so it stays moist
  
• They will rinse their hands in the bucket. When the whole table is done, one student will take the bucket to the counter, and one will roll up the paper.
  
• I will bring wipes to the students to wipe their hands then the tables
  

Time flow

• 5 - review
  
• 5 - slideshow and demo
  
• 20 - work on planter
  
• 5-10 - clean up
  

Closure

• Review vocab: planter, coil, slip and score, pinch pot, slab, base
  

SESSION 4
Objective: Students will complete their ceramic planters so they can be fired.
SOLs:

• 5.2 The student will execute and complete works of art with attention to detail and craftsmanship.
  
• 5.10 The student will create sculpture in the round, high relief, or bas-relief, using three-dimensional media, including clay.
  
• 5.20 The student will use specific criteria to evaluate a finished product (use of techniques)
  

VI. Materials and Resources

• clay, clay tools
  

VII. Itinerary and Instructional Strategies
Key terms/vocabulary to be introduced

• slip, wet clay, leather hard, bone dry
  
• greenware, bisqueware
  
• firing
  

Discussion / Questioning Strategies

• I will tell students that they will need to finish their planters so they can be fired by next week
  
• Discuss any questions kids have or any technical problems they’re facing in their pieces (cracks, too wet, too dry, unbalanced, etc)
  

Student independent practice/activity

• get to work and finish!
  

Checking for understanding

• discussion
  
• checking in with individual students as they work with clay
  

Time flow

• 5 - discussion / questions
  
• 30 - work to finish planters wetwork
  
• 5 - clean up
  

Closure

• Review vocabulary: Greenware, bone dry, firing, bisque ware
  
• Let students know that next week we will glaze. Be thinking about what imagery you want to put on your pot
  

VIII. Evaluation Strategies

• class participation
  
• productive use of time playing with clay
  
• finished vessel
  

SESSION 5
Objective: Students will paint their planters with watercolors
SOLs

• 5.2 The student will execute and complete works of art with attention to detail and craftsmanship.
  
• 5.20 The student will use specific criteria to evaluate a finished product (use of techniques)
  

VI. Materials and Resources

• watercolor paints
  
• brushes
  

VII. Itinerary and Instructional Strategies
Key terms/vocabulary to be introduced

• Cold treatment - ceramic finishing technique that doesn’t involve another firing
  
• craftsmanship
  
• sculpture in the round
  

Questioning strategies/discussion

• (if she’s here) I will introduce visiting artist, Olivia Penn and have her tell the kids about herself.
  
• Our pots have been fired since last class. What is different about them now? What happens to clay that is fired?
  
• We’re going to paint our pots today using watercolor. What are some predictions you have about how it will go? (I will show students touching a pot with a sponge and show them how quickly the water dries) If clay dries faster than paper, will that make painting different than paper? How?
  
• We will view a slideshow of a few works by Olivia Penn and have her talk about watercoloring on ceramics, and what other materials she uses.
  

Demonstration/guided practice

• I / a visiting artist will demo basic painting techniques: brushing, thinig paint, multiple coats
  

Student independent practice/activity

• Students will go back to their seats, paints will be passed out, and students will paint their pieces
  

Checking for understanding

• discussion
  
• checking in with individual students as they work with clay
  

Time flow

• 5 - demo
  
• 30 - paint
  
• 5 - clean up
  

Closure

• Review: What predictions do you have for firing? What colors will change? Why?
  
• Next class we will plant seeds in our planters  
  

SESSION 6
Objective: Students will plant wildflowers in their planters.  

SOLs

• 5.2 The student will execute and complete works of art with attention to detail and craftsmanship.
  
• 5.10 The student will create sculpture in the round, high relief, or bas-relief, using three-dimensional media, including clay.
  
• 5.11 The student will combine various craft techniques in works of art. (Wedge, pinch, coil, slip and score)
  
• 5.16 The student will describe various commercial art careers. (Professional ceramic artist)
  
• 5.20 The student will use specific criteria to evaluate a finished product (use of techniques)
  

VI. Materials and Resources

• Dirt
  
• seeds
  
• paper
  

VII. Itinerary and Instructional Strategies
Key terms/vocabulary to be introduced / reviewed

• ceramic planter
  
• soil
  
• water
  
• light
  

Questioning strategies/discussion

• Who has planted a garden before? Who has indoor plants where they live?
  
• What environments do plants need to survive indoors?  How do people keep track of that? (with cards that come with plants telling you what conditions they like to live in)
  

Demonstration/guided practice

• I will demo writing down the conditions for the seed I plant on a card to do with the plant
  
• I will demo planting a seed in a planter: Add dirt, add seeds, mix, add water.
  

Student independent practice/activity

• Students will document the ideal living conditions for their seeds on a card that can be posted in the pot. and plant it
  
• Students will come up by table to get dirt and seeds.
  

Demonstration/Guided Practice

• If there is time, students will participate in a reflection/critique. Kids will write about their piece. After writing, kids can raise their hands to share any answers from the questions.
  
  • What is your favorite part about it?
    
  • What would you change if you could?
    
  • What is it's name?
    
  • If it was alive, what is one word to describe it's personality?
    

Checking for understanding

• discussion
  
• checking in with individual students as they work with clay
  

Time flow

• 5 - discussion and demo
  
• 10 - plant plant
  
• 10 - mini critique
  
• 5 - clean up
  

Closure
VIII. Evaluation Strategies

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