In this lesson the students continued the exploration of clay, but with intention of creating an artwork that they could keep. Through interacting with clay, students had opportunities to ideate, create, and experiment in three dimensions. The material and lesson engaged students through problem solving, repetition, and practice of the fortitude to utilize studio materials and potentially hazardous equipment safely and appropriately. The clay used was air drying, so the students had to work efficiently, with the end goal in mind. Due to the fast drying nature of the clay, students had to utilize organizational techniques before opening their clay, and then re-evaluate the effectiveness of their methods as they worked with the material. The ultimate goal of the students' was to create a work of art that they felt a personal connection to, and had structural integrity.
Essential Understandings
Artists/designers use critical thinking and techniques to explore new materials and tools.
Artists/designers express their own creative imagination through art.
Outcomes Students will be able to: 1. After a short Introduction on the medium: clay, students will be able to connect with each other at their table groups and share observations or ideas to manipulate the clay by demonstrating their ability to responsibly explore new material and tools. 2. After experimenting with possible forms, the students will be able to expand on the form and use tools safely and appropriately for marking, designing, and adding texture to the surface, shown by a successful creation of a sculpture with form and texture. 3. Sharing their artwork, students will be able to reflect on their creation with each other; by presenting their piece in a mini gallery walk, discussing their process, and their creative decisions.
Skills
Critical thinking and organizational techniques
Creative problem solving and reflection through the process
Ability to mold clay into 3 Dimensional Art
Expansion of ideas through exploration of design
Sculpting Techniques
Studio Critique Etiquette
After teachers shared the project guidelines, techniques, and possible outcomes, the students had time to interact with the new medium at their seats. They worked through the ideation processes while directly interacting and experimenting with the medium and tools.
Performance of understanding:
Student has interacted creatively with the clay and shaped it into a new form with structural integrity.
Student has experimented with the tools, and explored ways to make marks and texture on the clay’s surface.
Student can discuss the creative process and decision making that went into their artwork.
Student engaged with the materials in a safe and appropriate manner, and was responsible for cleaning up his/her work space.
As they worked, students discussed the creative decisions that went into making their artwork. They shared insight into why they created their particular form, sharing pertinent stories, observations, what tools they used the most, and in what ways/techniques they used those tools to create their desired outcome. Through this manner of interaction the students uncovered the details of their creative problem solving as well as their artistic identity. This process culminated in the student's creating a work of art with personal relevance to themselves, that could be taken home, to keep, once dried.
Reflections: Art Journal reflections can be found by clicking on the link below: https://khinchsliffart.weebly.com/ (Link to an external site) What went well: This was our most successful lesson for many reasons. We planned to have enough clay for each student, motivation was present since they got to take it home, and we didn't have to plan intricate time management. Students got the majority of time to create and explore, which showed through their creations. Because we didn't give them a prompt, we took a moment to have students share what they have made to show what clay is capable of.
What didn't go well: On the first day of the lesson, we planned on keeping the sculpture so that they can dry. When it came time to let them dry, we had no space to store each sculpture safely. Luckily, we made space, but it took up all free space. Then, the second day, we sent the wet clay projects home. It help us, students, and the art space out a lot.
What I would do differently: Because the storage situation was addressed during our lesson, something I would do differently is introduction of clay sculptures and techniques. To help students create forms they had to ask about, I would explain and show the process under the document camera. Let's say, "How do I sculpt a fox?" I would start by asking students about was shapes are in a fox, then textures, etc. This may set student up better so that us, teachers, don't get so many, "how do you make a _____?" questions.