Ideas for Ceramics workshops

Subject: Ceramics / Theme/topic: CoilBuilding / Week: 1
Aims:
  • To introduce students to the technique of coil building
  • To introduce students to the methods of decoration/using coloured slips
  • SEAL
  • Working towards a body of work to raise money for charity.
Knowing myself and understanding my feelings
Motivation
Working towards goals
Persistence and resilience and optimism
Evaluation and review / Learning Objectives:
Know and understand:
  • The tools of coil building
  • The techniques of coil building
  • The techniques of decoration including mark-making, texture and coloured slips
Be able to:
  • Build and decorate their own coil pot

Resources: wooden boards, banding wheels, sculpting tools, decoration tools, clay, coloured slips
Order and timing of task: / Task: / Description of task:
1. 5 mins / Introduction /
  • To aims and objectives

2. 5 mins / Preparation /
  • Set students up with work station, including:
wooden board
banding wheel
sculpting tools
clay
  • Explain to students the function of the materials
  • Discuss the importance of health and safety

3. 35 mins / Demonstration
and practical /
  • The coil building technique will be broken into steps, which will be
demonstrated and then practiced by the students:
Step 1 - rolling the clay into coils
Step 2 - making base of pots
Step 3 - smooth base with tools
Step 4 - continue to add coils to base, smoothing with tool
  • During this time students are encouraged to ask questions about the process

4. 20 mins / Decoration /
  • Class will look at different ways of decoration including mark making, texture and colour. This will begin as a demonstration of each of the techniques and allow the students to choose their own form of decoration
  • During this time teacher will facilitate

5. 10 mins / Tidy /
  • Students have time to clear and tidy their work stations

6. 5 mins / Evaluation /
  • Discuss what students have achieved in the lesson in terms of:
  • Knowledge, understanding and practical skills of coil building and decoration
  • Ask students how they think they have worked e.g. on task, focused etc.

Subject: Ceramics / Theme/topic: CoilBuilding / Week: 2
Aims:
  • To develop technique of coil building and introduce the use of pinch pots in sculptural ceramics
  • To develop methods of decoration
  • SEAL
  • Working towards a body of work to raise money for charity.
Knowing myself and understanding my feelings
Motivation
Working towards goals
Persistence and resilience and optimism
Evaluation and review / Learning Objectives:
Know and understand:
  • The tools of coil building
  • The techniques of coil building and pinch pots
  • The techniques of decoration including mark-making, texture and coloured slips
Be able to:
  • Build and decorate their own coil pot

Resources: wooden boards, banding wheels, sculpting tools, decoration tools, clay, coloured slips
Order and timing of task: / Task: / Description of task:
1. 5 mins / Introduction /
  • To aims and objectives

2. 5 mins / Preparation /
  • Set students up with work station, including:
wooden board
banding wheel
sculpting tools
clay
  • Explain to students the function of the materials
  • Discuss the importance of health and safety

3. 35 mins / Demonstration
and practical /
  • The coil building technique will be broken into steps, which will be
demonstrated and then practiced by the students:
Step 1 - rolling the clay into coils
Step 2 - making base of pots
Step 3 - smooth base with tools
Step 4 - continue to add coils to base, smoothing with tool
Step 5 – create two pinch pots to join together to make forms
During this time students are encouraged to ask questions about the process
4. 20 mins / Decoration /
  • Class will look at different ways of decoration including mark making, texture and colour. This will begin as a demonstration of each of the techniques and allow the students to choose their own form of decoration
  • During this time teacher will facilitate

5. 10 mins / Tidy /
  • Students have time to clear and tidy their work stations

6. 5 mins / Evaluation /
  • Discuss what students have achieved in the lesson in terms of:
  • Knowledge, understanding and practical skills of coil building and decoration
  • Ask students how they think they have worked e.g. on task, focused etc.

Subject: Ceramics / Theme/topic: CoilBuilding / Week: 3
Aims:
  • To continue technique of coil building to create a range of bowls and vases
  • To continue developing painting and decorating techniques
  • SEAL
  • Working towards a body of work to raise money for charity.
Knowing myself and understanding my feelings
Motivation
Working towards goals
Persistence and resilience and optimism
Evaluation and review / Learning Objectives:
Know and understand:
  • The tools of coil building
  • The techniques of coil building
  • The techniques of decoration including mark-making, texture and coloured slips
Be able to:
  • Build and decorate their own coil pot

Resources: wooden boards, banding wheels, sculpting tools, decoration tools, clay, coloured slips
Order and timing of task: / Task: / Description of task:
1. 5 mins / Introduction /
  • To aims and objectives

2. 5 mins / Preparation /
  • Set students up with work station, including:
wooden board
banding wheel
sculpting tools
clay
  • Explain to students the function of the materials
  • Discuss the importance of health and safety

3. 35 mins / Demonstration
and practical /
  • The coil building technique will be broken into steps, which will be
demonstrated and then practiced by the students:
Step 1 - rolling the clay into coils
Step 2 - making base of pots
Step 3 - smooth base with tools
Step 4 - continue to add coils to base, smoothing with tool
  • During this time students are encouraged to ask questions about the process

4. 20 mins / Decoration /
  • Class will look at different ways of decoration including mark making, texture and colour. This will begin as a demonstration of each of the techniques and allow the students to choose their own form of decoration
  • During this time teacher will facilitate

5. 10 mins / Tidy /
  • Students have time to clear and tidy their work stations

6. 5 mins / Evaluation /
  • Discuss what students have achieved in the lesson in terms of:
  • Knowledge, understanding and practical skills of coil building and decoration
  • Ask students how they think they have worked e.g. on task, focused etc.

Subject: Ceramics / Theme/topic: Introduction to Art / Week: 4
Aims:
  • To introduce students to wider field of art forms.
  • SEAL
Knowing myself
Understanding my feelings
Managing my expression of emotions
Expressing feelings in a range of ways and appropriately in a range of situation / Learning Objectives:
Know and understand:
  • Various forms and mediums of art
  • How artists work within a studio environment
Be able to:
  • recognise the different mediums of art
  • to encourage students to reflect on the day by printing out photos and creating a collage in the art room

Resources:
Order and timing of task: / Task: / Description of task:
5 mins / Introduction /
  • To aims and objectives

20 mins / Visit to Art Exhibition /
  • Students are taken to an art exhibition.
  • During this time students are encouraged to discuss:
the various mediums of art e.g. painting, sculpture, photography
the technical and conceptual aspects of art
the exhibition space and the impact of a gallery
the cost of art
colours, textures, scale, techniques
  • Students take photos of exhibition for later discussion

15 mins / Public Art /
  • Students are taken to see a public piece of art at Greenham/ Arlington Arts.
  • During this time students are encouraged to discuss:
mixing mediums e.g. ceramics and photography
why public art is commissioned
where in Newbury art can be found e.g. businesses, homes, outside areas
why so many different places have artwork within their environment
5 mins / Evaluation /
  • Discuss what students have learnt from the visits

Subject: Ceramics / Theme/topic: SlabBuilding / Week: 4
Aims:
  • To introduce students to the technique of slab building
  • SEAL
Knowing myself and understanding my feelings
Motivation
Working towards goals
Persistence and resilience and optimism
Evaluation and review
  • Empathy
  • Building and maintaining relationships
/ Learning Objectives:
Drama:
Know and understand:
  • The tools of slab building
  • The techniques of slab building
Be able to:
  • Build and decorate their own slab box

Resources: wooden boards, banding wheels, sculpting tools, decoration tools, clay, coloured slips
Order and timing of task: / Task: / Description of task:
1. 5 mins / Introduction /
  • To aims and objectives

2. 5 mins / Preparation /
  • Set students up with work station, including:
wooden board
banding wheel
sculpting tools
clay
  • Discuss the importance of health and safety

3. 35 mins / Demonstration
and practical /
  • Students will explore three different ways of creating slabs:
rolling
stretching
cutting
  • Students are shown how to create a simple slab box
  • During this time students are encouraged to ask questions about the
process
4. 20 mins / Decoration /
  • Class will choose a decoration technique, explored in week 2 e.g. mark making, texture and coloured slips.
  • During this time teacher will facilitate

5. 10 mins / Tidy /
  • Students have time to clear and tidy their work stations

6. 5 mins / Evaluation /
  • Discuss what students have achieved in the lesson in terms of:
  • Knowledge, understanding and practical skills of slab building
  • Ask students how they think they have worked e.g. on task, focused etc.

Subject: Ceramics / Theme/topic: SlabBuilding / Week: 5
Aims:
  • To introduce students to the technique of slab building
  • SEAL
Knowing myself and understanding my feelings
Motivation
Working towards goals
Persistence and resilience and optimism
Evaluation and review
  • Empathy
  • Building and maintaining relationships
/ Learning Objectives:
Drama:
Know and understand:
  • The tools of slab building
  • The techniques of slab building
Be able to:
  • Build and decorate their own slab box

Resources: wooden boards, banding wheels, sculpting tools, decoration tools, clay, coloured slips
Order and timing of task: / Task: / Description of task:
1. 5 mins / Introduction /
  • To aims and objectives

2. 5 mins / Preparation /
  • Set students up with work station, including:
wooden board
banding wheel
sculpting tools
clay
  • Discuss the importance of health and safety

3. 35 mins / Demonstration
and practical /
  • Students will explore three different ways of creating slabs:
rolling
stretching
cutting
  • Students are shown how to create a simple slab box
  • During this time students are encouraged to ask questions about the
process
4. 20 mins / Decoration /
  • Class will choose a decoration technique, explored in week 2 e.g. mark making, texture and coloured slips.
  • During this time teacher will facilitate

5. 10 mins / Tidy /
  • Students have time to clear and tidy their work stations

6. 5 mins / Evaluation /
  • Discuss what students have achieved in the lesson in terms of:
  • Knowledge, understanding and practical skills of slab building
  • Ask students how they think they have worked e.g. on task, focused etc.

Subject: Ceramics / Theme/topic: End Project / Week: 6
Aims:
  • For students to consolidate knowledge, understanding and skills of sculptural ceramic techniques through creation of own piece of ceramics
  • SEAL
Knowing myself and understanding my feelings
Motivation
Working towards goals
Persistence and resilience and optimism
Evaluation and review
  • Empathy
  • Building and maintaining relationships
/ Learning Objectives:
Drama:
Know and understand:
  • The techniques of coil building, pinch pots and slab building
  • The techniques of decoration including mark-making, texture and coloured slips
Be able to:
  • Build and decorate their own piece of ceramics, inspired by the techniques learnt over the previous weeks

Resources: wooden boards, banding wheels, sculpting tools, decoration tools, clay, coloured slips, moulds
Order and timing of task: / Task: / Description of task:
1. 5 mins / Introduction /
  • To aims and objectives

2. 5 mins / Preparation /
  • Set students up with work station, including:
wooden board
banding wheel
sculpting tools
clay
moulds
  • Discuss the importance of health and safety

3. 30 mins / Practical /
  • Students will choose a sculptural technique to create their own ceramic piece.
  • Students can choose to create a simple form to improve their technique or to experiment with a concept, using the form as a vehicle for their ideas, these choices will be discussed
  • During the practical time, teacher will facilitate

4. 15 mins / Decoration /
  • Class will decorate their pieces from a choice of mark making, texture, moulds, coloured slips.
  • During this time teacher will facilitate

5. 10 mins / Tidy /
  • Students have time to clear and tidy their work stations

6. 10 mins / Evaluation /
  • Discuss what students have achieved in the lesson in terms of:
  • Knowledge, understanding and practical skills of sculptural ceramic techniques and decoration
  • Discuss what has been achieved throughout the project:
  • What skills have students learnt?
  • How have students worked?
  • What have they discovered about their own talents?
  • What areas are there for improvement?

Comments from other participants on the “Barnstorming” Day

Ceramics are ideal for our students for confidence building, team development, skills building, self esteem - so many think they can’t do anything creative. They would also enjoy getting ‘hands on’ with the materials.