Coiling Away the Day

The fourth graders are knuckle deep in clay!  They've been experimenting with clay and starting to create coil pots while practicing the score and slip method of joining clay.

The students learned that wedging clay is the process of getting the air bubbles out of clay, as well as compacting the clay particles.  We've been practicing the 'ram's head spiral' wedge.  Watch how to do it on the link below...

After rolling out a slab, the students are building clay pots one coil at a time.  Our goal is to have a pot that is at least five coils tall.  After the initial demonstration, I've been playing the video below to remind students of the process over and over and over again!

How to wedge clay:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNZhkHJ1ozE

How to make a coil pot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5OVJlvvF5U

Sketchbook Assignment #4

Draw one of your fingers, close up with lots of detail and shading.

Sketchbook Assignment #3

Pick an everyday object or something from Pop Culture and draw it.  Don't forget to shade it in (add value)!

Sketchbook Assignment #2

Cut a leaf in half and glue it down.  Draw the missing side of the leaf in pencil and add a range of values (in other words, shade it in!)

Sketchbook Assignment #1

Define value.
(Hint:  Value is the lightness and darkness of a color.)
Draw a value scale in pencil.