| Submitted
by: Justin Kramer KRAMER©2002
Alternate
surface decoration:
Justin did a different spin on the surface decoration this year.
Students emphasized the texture of the creatures
through brushing with iron oxide (rubbed off surface to remain in textures).
Once fired they then further coloured the forms with liquid inks. The
works had a similar appears to hand coloured etchings.
Click images to see larger views
Some advice from Justin:
We make two pinch pots, join them together, make a
mouth piece using a piece of clay that is folded over a paddle pop stick.
Use the same paddle pop stick to dig out a piece of clay from the joined
pinch pots. When digging out the clay penetrate the clay ball at an angle
as this will form the mechanics of the whistle. Position the mouth piece
in varying positions adjusting proximity to the angle. Always look through
the mouth piece to see that it isn't blocked and you can see the angled
piece of clay in the middle. Once working, join it and then add all of
your features.
The most interesting result about this activity is the
students who get theirs working first. These students are the most
unlikely and enjoy the position of being able to help others. The students
find this activity very rewarding and always remember it as it presents a
problem that requires them to understand the mechanics of a whistle in
order to get it to work. In regards to health and safety - I tell the
story that clay comes from the earth, the earth contains bacteria, germs
and parasites - I conclude this by telling them that our clay is not sterilized.......
don't put the clay to their mouth and wash their hands when they are
finished. The easiest way to test the whistle is to wrap your hands around
the mouth piece and blow onto your hand or hold the whistle in front of
your mouth and not onto it.
Additional Tips from MIchelle Kee
- Students hold their straight arms 45
degrees from their body to ensure
they know what 45° looks/feels like. MS kids, what is - demo 90°,
45°, 60º
deg? Hold the whistle horizontal to floor, hold popsicle stick
45° to
hole.
- Creating wedge: stroke 45° with stick
several times (especially if
clay is fresh)
- Ensure the popsicle stick is a snug fit
in the mouthpiece, slide it
through for a clean passage.
- Aligning mouthpiece. Hold the
whistle to the light source, look through
the mouthpiece - you should see the 1/2 of the wedge and 1/2 of
darkness =
100% success, blow. Reinforces lesson of splitting air to create
sound.
- Make an extra whistle for the child who
has tried several times,
squished the clay the death and needs to move on....
Note from Judy D: All students should feel
successful with this unit. Another way to have 100% success is to have
students who "get it" go around and help those who are
struggling.
Additional
Resources:
How
to make a clay whistle -
with drawings of steps.
Making a Clay Whistle - with photographs of steps. Here is another
source for the lesson - Ceramics Today
See some wonderful sculptural whistles from Whistle
Press.
Middle
School Lesson Plan - some
examples (scroll down)
Whistle While You Sculpt Crizmac
video #2400 - $39.95 Featuring artist and teacher Paul Guion -
13 minute video program and Instructional Guide with reproducible student
handout )step by step illustrations).
Clay Whistles: The Voice of Clay
by Janet Moniot - Techniques listed for grade 5 through 12. 56 page
paperback book Crizmac #2411 $11.95
Russian Folk Art Bird Whistles - Crizmac
#2410 - $10.95 each.
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