This is the big clay project for 2nd grade this year...as stated in the MNPS Visual Arts Curriculum...ooh la la.
Anyway, I tried teaching this with two different approaches. With my pilot class, I tried getting them to make the whole thing in one class period...after set-up, demos, problem-solving...demos again...we really ran out of time. Some kids got it and theirs look great...but I wanted more success as a whole. So, I tried teaching them this in chunks. Day One we made coils, created the spiral base and that's it...and it took an hour!
So, I put their 'bases' in a ziploc bag and we'll build the coil walls next class.
Below is the pilot classes coil pots from one class period. We have a good variety of sizes...and we went ahead and glazed them while they were greenware.
I did find that rolling the clay into a "carrot" shape between your hands first starts a great coil. Before, I had them roll the clay into a ball, then roll into a coil and that just didn't make sense after a few tries.
Dipping in Crystal Clear Glaze:
So, I pulled this huge bucket out today of crystal clear glaze....I usually dip the clay for the kids, but they were curious about it so I just let them get in there and dip their own! Great idea for me, cause it saves me a lot of time...and it's fun for them. Win-win.
Here's some coil pots from the last class I taught this project to. Of course, they got the best lesson since I had 'mastered' it by then.
Glazed Pots!
