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This curriculum unit, incorporating an art specialist's experience and knowledge gained in Mexico as a participant in the Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminars Abroad Program, focuses on the creation of a ceramic shrine by 75 fifth graders. The ceramic shrine described in the unit uses clay, paint, varnish, collage materials, and tin for "milagros" (representing the students' hopes, wishes, and dreams). The unit outlines the key concepts and the arts essential learning focus; provides teaching strategies; describes the project; and explains procedures and teaching techniques for building a slab container, creating the clay figure, and creating clay decorations. It lists resources and materials needed for the project and provides assessment criteria, as well as extensions to Washington State learning goals. The unit also describes "What the Instructor Does,""What the Student Does," and it provides a "key vocabulary", It also contains photographs of the class projects. (Contains 12 references.) (BT)

This lesson combines two significant art forms into one lesson. Students first learn the techniques necessary to create a relief sculpture terra cotta clay mold. Using that mold, students will experience the art of paper making and paper casting simply, safely, and economically. A brief history of the art of paper making is provided, along with samples and examples to show how the completed work will appear. Step-by-step instructions are included, along with a glossary of terms, lesson goals and objectives, background and preparation information, supply and equipment list, alternative suggestions, and additional ideas. (EH)

This lesson incorporates art, academic curriculum, developmental skills, and multi-media technology, and is appropriate for all grade levels. Students become involved in all aspects of this lesson and will understand and appreciate the complexities of clay animation when viewing movies and videos that employ this process. A brief description of the animation process is provided, along with samples and examples to show how the completed work will appear. Step-by-step instructions are included, along with a glossary of terms, lesson goals and objectives, background and preparation information, supply and equipment list, alternative suggestions, and additional ideas. (EH)

This lesson resource focuses on the portrait in a three-dimensional art technique. Materials needed include ceramic clay and a pear as armature for the sculpted head. Exemplars of both two and three-dimensional portraits are to be used as inspiration and motivation for personal expression of the human form. This plan includes lesson goals and objectives; background preparation; a glossary of terms; a list of supplies; optional supplies; and instructions for lesson implementation. Additional applications and extension. (MM)

Presents four articles that examine the role of art experiences in early childhood education: "Educationally Appropriate Art Activities for Young Children," by Bernard Spodek; "Teachers and Children Together: Constructing New Learning," by Lella Gandini; "Fostering Experiences between Young Children and Clay," by Cathy Weisman Topal; and "Negotiating with Art Media to Deepen Learning," by George Forman. (AA)

This lesson resource includes a brief summary of the history of bead making and historic fascination with beads as adornment. A focus on design elements, color theory, craftsmanship, and technical skill in bead making is encouraged. The plan includes lesson goals and objectives; background preparation; a glossary of terms; a list of supplies; and instructions for lesson implementation. Commercially made polymer clays are to be used. Color tips and suggestions for technical manipulation of materials are given. The lesson plan concludes with references. (MM)

This collection of recipes is intended for art teachers to provide low-cost, non-toxic materials for classroom use. The materials needed are readily available and can be purchased in quantity to help the budget conscious teacher. Recipes included are for modeling materials, edible modeling materials, paints and inks, adhesives, fixatives, and drawing and transfer materials. (EH)

Presents an interview with Dennis Sipiorski that focuses on topics such as his development as artist and teacher, the balance of his work as art department chairman and artist, and his advice for art teachers. Includes a teapot project, for middle and high school students, based on Sipiorski's techniques. (CMK)

Presents a ceramics activity for beginning art students inspired by a workshop given by artist David Stabley, who combines unique sculptural forms with colorful, nontraditional decorating approaches. Students make plates or tiles that tell a story about their world. Includes instructions. (CMK)

Presents a lesson where students make faux Chinese bronze vessels through slab or coil clay construction after they learn about the history, function, and design of these vessels. Utilizes a variety of glaze finishes in order to give the vessels an aged look. Gives detailed guidelines for creating the vessels. (CMK)

Discusses why art activities are an important part of a child's development. Cites reasons open-ended art activities have a place in early childhood programs, including: children love them; art materials provide hands-on, sensory experiences; art provides an outlet for the innate creativity of children, allowing them opportunities for unique self-expression; and art fosters creative and divergent thinking. (TJQ)

Describes an art project where students create slab planters that are functional clay objects. Discusses how the students prepare their drawings for the planter and how to create the planter. Explains that the subject matter is depicted in a progression from reality to abstraction. (CMK)

Focuses on a reduction-firing process with an aim of producing high-quality blackware similar to the black-on-black pottery of Maria Martinez and other American Indian potters. Includes a lesson on creating reduction-fired seedpod bowls, lists of instructional resources and materials, and the objectives and evaluation. (CMK)

Describes an art unit in which students sculpt a signature seal out of clay and use Chinese brush painting techniques to paint a scroll. Discusses the seal and its historical use in China. Lists materials needed and explains the procedure. (CMK)

Describes a project in which ninth grade students sculpt gargoyles as part of a Gothic unit. Discusses the construction of the gargoyles from the initial sketches to sculpting methods and effects to finishes. Offers tips on what to avoid. (CMK)

Describes a unit on clay casting that introduces students to relief sculpture. The unit takes three 45 to 50 minute class periods three weeks apart. Discusses each class session in detail: (1) creating the casting; (2) turning out and rinsing the casting; and (3) enriching the surface with color. (CMK)

Explains that creating paper-pulp bowls is designed to acquaint students with the beginning vocabulary and finger dexterity needed to sculpt clay. Describes the process of making paper-pulp bowls and identifies important vocabulary words. Provides directions for making paper bowl forms and lists the materials. (CMK)

Presents an art lesson for eighth-grade students in which they created their own architectural structures. Stresses a strong discipline-based introduction using slide shows of famous buildings, large metropolitan cities, and 35,00 years of homes. Reports the lesson spanned two weeks. Includes a diagram, directions, and specifies materials. (CMK)

Offers a fifth-grade art lesson on lighthouses prompted by reading Arielle North Olson's "The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter" during a language-arts lesson. Reports that the students made a two-dimensional and a three-dimensional project. States that the students were excited about conveying their ideas using two different media. Explains the process for both activities. (CMK)

Describes an art project for second-grade students where in over five class periods, they create fired clay dinosaur sculptures with dioramas as the background. States that this project, the culminating activity for a sculpture unit, teaches students many art terms and uses of different media. (CMK)

Describes an interdisciplinary art and music lesson for third- and fourth-grade students where students learned about maracas from the music teacher and then created their own maracas. Explains the process for creating the maracas in detail and includes a list of materials needed, the learning objectives, and a bibliography. (CMK)

Describes an activity that takes two class periods where fifth-grade students created hand-built pots. Explains that each child receives a clay slab. Discusses how to make the major part of the pot from two pinch pots and how to create the neck and foot. (CMK)

Presents a unit on clay that is centered around sign language in which students explore the slab method of working with clay. States that each student picks a letter of the sign language alphabet and fashions a clay hand to depict the letter. (CMK)

Presents an art lesson for second-grade students that was inspired by the book "Grandpa's Face" by Eloise Greenfield. Comments that the students each wrote a descriptions of their grandfather's face, compared the artwork of Chuck Close and Vincent Van Gogh, and then made clay representations of their grandfather's face using abstract expressionism. (CMK)

Describes an art activity for high school students in which they create relief sculptures by rendering a two-dimensional design and then transferring that design onto a slab of clay. Stresses that this activity provides teachers with a means for introducing students to three-dimensional art. (CMK)

Describes an art activity for third-grade students where they create their own Japanese clay dolls complete with kimonos and obies after learning about Japanese culture and the importance of kimonos. Discusses the process of making the dolls and kimonos in detail. (CMK)

Presents two activities that enable students to work with clay: a tile project and turkey candle-holders. Explains that before students actually create their own projects, they get an opportunity to experience the clay itself. Asserts that the new vocabulary, unusual equipment, and intriguing techniques make ceramics a motivating activity. (CMK)

Describes a lesson in sculpture using the drape-mold method. Provides instructions for making the drape molds and the directions given to students. Briefly outlines the steps students went through to create various objects such as teapots, pitchers, vases, and cookie jars. Notes students' responses to the project. (DSK)

Describes a fourth-grade art activity inspired by Cochiti Pueblo Indian Helen Cordero's Storyteller figures and also gives historical background of the figures. Explains that students created a personal storyteller figure that told about ideas or things important to them. Provides an understanding of the artmaking process from idea to product. (CMK)

Presents an elementary art activity that successfully teaches the process of slabbing by having students create fishbowl plaques. Explains the process step-by-step beginning with a demonstration to the students along with showing previous examples. Endorses a type of clay that fires white because the glaze colors are much more vibrant. (CMK)