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Unit: Greek and Roman

Project: Greek Pottery

Featured Artist: N/A

Objectives:
1. Identify three different kinds of clay pots.
2. Use clay to create replica of a Greek pot.
3. Recognize shape and form in clay pottery.
4. Evaluate the use of symbols in student work.

Materials Provided:
• Self-Hardening Clay
• Wooden Skewer Stick
• Clay cutter
• Clay pot types worksheet
• Symbols worksheet

Materials Needed:
• Newspaper to cover the table

Vocabulary:
1. Pottery: Pottery is made by forming a clay body into objects of a required shape and heating them to high temperatures in a kiln to induce reactions that lead to permanent changes, including increasing their strength and hardening and setting their shape. (We are using self-hardening clay.)
2. Coil: a technique to form the clay in a long round shape like a snake (roll in between hands or on table). Motivation: 1. Show and discuss examples of Greek clay pottery.
2. Demonstrate all steps of procedure before students begin.
3. Show students the finished project.

Instruction:
1. Use the clay cutter to make 2 slices in the large block of clay forming 3 equal sections on the top of the square. Place the cutter in the closest slot to you and slice about 1/2 of the way down the block then pull the string towards you. Repeat the steps with the other 2 sections creating 3 long slabs of clay.







2. Holding one of the clay slabs vertically in front of you, place the clay cutter on the opposite side of the clay about 1/3 of the way down the slab and pull towards you. Repeat again to create three chunks of clay from each long slab. The whole clay square should produce 18 small clay chunks. (Each student will need one chunk)



3. Rip a piece of clay away from one of the chunks and roll it into a ball using the palms of your hands. Place your thumb into the center of the ball and push straight down towards the bottom (do not push too far down or the bottom of the pot will be too thin).



4. Keeping your thumb in the middle of the circle begin to pinch the sides of the pot by using the fingers from the same hand against the outside of the clay circle. The clay ball will begin to form thinner taller walls.





5. Once the clay has a hollow middle begin to lightly squeeze in the cup shaped base using the circular area between your thumb and your first finger until there is a slight dent around the lower part of the clay.






6. Tear off a small piece of clay from the remaining chunk and begin to roll it out against the table until it forms a coil (long snake shape) about 1/4 to 1/2 “ thick (about the width of the walls of your pot).








7. Score both the top of the clay pot and the long section of clay using the wooden skewer stick. Making small dashes in both surface areas will help the clay pieces adhere to each other.





8. Wrap the long piece of around the top of the clay pot (both scored sides facing each other). Wrap the first piece directly on top of the top of the clay base then depending on the shape of clay pot desired, either wrap the remaining pieces more and more towards the inside for a skinnier pot or slightly curving towards the outside of each piece for a thicker middle.





9. Tear off another piece of clay from the remaining chunk leaving a small piece for the handles left. Roll out the clay into a coil (long snake shape) and wrap the piece along the top of the pot starting where the last piece left off.







10. Once the pieces are all connected to each other take your thumb or finger and blend the pieces together until the pot appears to be one joined piece. Smear the lines of each of the coils together first, and then smear the coils into the base. (If experiencing difficulty blending the coils, let the pot sit until clay is firm, not completely dry.)






11. Pinch the clay about 1/2” down from the top using the same method that was done to the bottom of the pot to create a larger opening and a smaller neck to the pot.







12. Take the remaining piece of clay and separate it into 2 equal parts. Roll out the clay into shorter 1/2” thick pieces. Score both the ends of the pieces of clay as well as the area where the ends will be attached to the pot. (Refer to handout for different styles and placements of handles) Use your finger to blend the pieces of clay to the pot.





13. Referring to the pottery worksheet score your created design into the pot in using the wooden skewer stick.







Evaluation:
1. Use line to create a design or image on the pot?
2. Use correct techniques to produce a smooth surface and even shape?
3. Evaluate completed work?