Clay... my nemesis...

I hate to say "I hate clay," but I do, I hate it. OK, OK I don't hate the medium, I hate doing it with students! 

"Can we do clay," "When are we going to do clay Mrs. Clarke," "What are we going to make out of clay this year Mrs. C?" 

I hear this alllll the time.  Why is it my nemesis, you ask? Well, as much as students like it, they can't manipulate it, and when they do it never looks like they want it to, or as they intended. Then I get the complaints, the "I can't do it," and the "this is hard."  

Before I begin with 7th or 8th- (I do not do clay with 6th grade, I have a wacky schedule and they only have art or 40 minutes) they all take notes from my Prezi:

 http://prezi.com/fdyfjlvxqfem/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

I tend to do the same project with my 7th graders each year, they create a clay tile. They have to roll out a slab (recently I have begun rolling our slabs on my slab roller to save time)  then they cut out a square from a template. They use the extra clay they cut from around their square to attach at least three things to their slab. We talk about low relief vs. High relief and I tell them they need to have low relief. 

After they attach the required pieces, they use toothpicks and other clay tools to add designs and patterns or drawings of their choice. 

This proves to be a relatively easy project for them, they still feel like they are manipulating the clay and yet they all end up with something that looks pretty good. 

They must attach at least three things using the score slip and smooth method. Their grade is based off of their design idea and their execution of that design, their ability to follow directions and their creativity and effort. 

8th grade... I can never decide on something great for them. This year in particular, I have two groups of students who do "not like art," and got stuck in my class. They don't want to do annnnyyyyything. 

For their art journals they use a quote each week (see previous post on art journals) so this year for their clay project, they created a quote tile. They begin by rolling out a slab, or using a previously rolled slab. They cut out the shape of their choice and then used alphabet macaroni to create the quote of their choice. Once it is fired they use glaze to decorate it. 

I would say it was somewhat successful.. again they don't seem to like anything anymore it seems... sadly :( 

Lastly, my favorite group of students, my special needs population. These are my learning support students- they range in abilities from vocal and great motor skills, to very limited motor skills and non-verbal students. 

This year they created owls. They also begin with a slab but fold over three of the edges and use various materials to add texture to their owls. They use different colors of glaze to add color to their creations.