Submitted by: Linda Wood, St. John's Lower School, Houston, Texas  
GRADE LEVEL: 3rd thru 6th (examples are 3rd grade)    
UNIT: Ceramics
PROJECT: Effigy Vessels
School Web Site: St. John's Lower School  (click Art Stories until you see Linda Woods)
Alternate Project: ceramic animals

Objectives:  The learner will

• Understand a little about Pueblo native culture - respect for the land and nature. Develop appreciation for Native American Pottery 
• Exhibit problem solving skills- plan and execute plan for effigy vessel with minimal assistance
• Understand ceramic vocabulary
• Construct a clay effigy vessel using a variety of hand building techniques
• Demonstrate skill and craftsmanship in working with clay and glazing

Materials:

Clay  
canvas cloth 
rolling pins
guide sticks (for slab rolling) 
clay tools  
slip dishes
glazes - brushes

Instructional Resources:

Images of Southwest Pottery, images of effigy vessels from other cultures, examples of lidded vessels. 
Southwest Native American Internet Resources
Pre-Columbian Effigy Vessels  

Vocabulary:

slip, score, slab, pinch, coil, bisque, green-ware, bone dry, glaze

Instruction/Motivation:

1. Present examples of effigy vessels from the Pueblo culture and other cultures. show a variety of vessels with lids

2. Demonstrate/review wedging clay and forming techniques (student in Linda's classes made pinch pot bird nests in 2nd grade). Review pinch and demonstrate coil method.

3. Demonstrate various ways to make an animal face, legs, ears etc. - Demonstrate how to attach using slip.

4. Demonstrate how to make a lid fit the vessel (add a ring to inside of lid)

5. Demonstrate glazing technique.

Procedures:

Linda allowed a lot of freedom in this project.  A wide variety of responses followed: menorahs, angels, lidded jars with animals on the lids, animal bowls, etc.

1. Make some sketches of ideas for vessel - select one to construct. Plan methods of construction.

2. Wedge clay to remove air bubbles

3. Make base of bowl using pinch pot method - Add coils to make larger by scoring and applying slip.

4. Make slab for lid (if desired) - make animal head, legs, ears using pinch method. Use coil and pinch method to make animal to sit on lid. Attach all pieces by scoring and applying slip. If head is a hollow ball - be sure to put a hole in the body of the vessel to allow air to escape.

5. Make a ring for the underside of the lid that will fit inside the bowl of the vessel. Score and slip to underside of lid.

6. Make face for animal: to make a mouth and nose for animals like cats, bears, lions, dogs, rabbits, etc . Pinch and roll four little balls of clay.  One goes where the nose will go, the two biggest ones go directly below the nose, side by side, all three balls touching, and the ball for the chin goes on the bottom, touching the two balls for the cheeks.  Just rub
   the edges of the balls into the clay face, thereby only leaving the line under the nose and down into an anchor shape to form the mouth.

7. Sculpt eyes by placing a small ball on the face where you want the eye to be, and then use a small coil above and below the eye for the lids.  Rub the outer edge of the coil into the head and cheek, thereby only leaving the line next to the eye as the eyelid, while puffing up the lid a bit.

8. Reinforce the legs by adding a small coil underneath them where they join the body. Rub the little coil into the leg and the body to make the legs stronger.

Alternate Project: Ceramic Animals

1. Make two pinch pots for body- Score and slip together - smooth seams. Make small hole on bottom for air to escape

2. Make pinch pot head - make hole in body where head is to attach. Score and slip

3. Use thick coils for legs - pinch slabs for ears. Score and slip into place

4. Add details for face - follow steps listed above.

Evaluation:

• Did student show an awareness of Pueblo Native American culture?

• Did student show initiative in planning an executing an original design?

• Did student demonstrate knowledge of forming techniques?

• Did student demonstrate skill and craftsmanship in handling clay?

• Did student demonstrate skill in glazing

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