Submitted by: Judy Decker - Student work from Tracy Albert, May Whitney Elementary
                        Student work from Linda Woods below.
Unit: Sculpture - Ceramics - Folk Art
Project:  Native American Storyteller Figure
Level: Elementary (adaptable to middle school and high school)

Objectives: Students will:

1. Hand build a larger figure of clay that is adorned with small children and/or animals. They will combine several hand building techniques

2. Learn about cultures that use clay figures to express the telling of stories from one generation to the next. Learn about Pueblo culture.

3. Demonstrate craftsmanship in forming and glazing. Select colors for aesthetics.

Materials:

Newspaper
Canvas cloth
White clay -or buff clay (or terra cotta) - slip dishes
Clay tools and water
Underglazes and clear glaze - Or glazes
OR - Acrylic paints 
Acrylic gloss spray
Brushes

You will find a lot of links for Helen Cordero (1915-1994)
"The originator of the contemporary "Storyteller" figures was Helen Cordero of Cochiti Pueblo. Helen was a beautiful woman who cherished the role of storytellers in preserving the history of the Pueblo Indians. While her peers among Cochiti women were making traditional gray clay bowls, Helen was sculpting figures of seated storytellers with little children perched on legs, arms, shoulders, and back--all listening to the tales of the grandfather or grandmother."

Many Pueblo potters today produce Storytellers; but none match the quality, feeling, and naturalness of Helen Cordero's; one can almost hear the words coming out of the mouths of her Storytellers as the children hang on and listen attentively. See the First Storyteller

I found one of Helen's for $14,500.00: (show art has value- image no longer on line)

Instructional Resources: (Additional Websites)

The Pueblo Story Teller: Development of a Figurative Ceramic Tradition by Barbara Babcock, et al.
Helen Cordero and the Storytellers of Cochiti Pueblo  by Nancy Shroyer Howard.
Pueblo Stories and Storytellers This is also a wonderful book of information on the dolls/tradition and stories by Mark Bahti.
Storytellers and Other Figurative Pottery by Douglas Congdon-Martin. 
Art Scholastic Magazine: Maria Martinez 
Video: Arts and Crafts of Mexico, Educational Video Network, Inc., Huntsville, Texas
Detailed Lesson Plan (pdf file - no longer on line) 
"Listening Dolls" lesson for K thru 4 " Kennedy ArtsEdge

Motivation:

1. Show pictures of storytellers. (PowerPoint - slides)

2. Discuss characteristics of Native American design motifs. Discuss Pueblo culture.

3. Discuss the importance of telling cultural history from generation to generation.

4. Demonstrate processes - Instruct students on how to make a traditional storyteller - but encourage creativity.

Previous knowledge: Student have had prior experience with pinch pot, pinch method and coiling.

Vocabulary:

Storyteller
Pueblo
Ethnic
Culture
Decorative motifs
Figurative
Pinch method
Score, slip, coil
Glaze, Underglaze

Instructional Plan:

1. For larger story tellers - Make a ball of newspaper about the size of a baseball/tennis ball. (may work smaller for younger children) For other animal shapes - make a hump of newspaper smaller than desired body form. Make two pinch pots for smaller storytellers.
2. Press 1/8” -1/4" slab clay around the paper to create the skirt or body of the adult figure - or drape slab over newspaper hump. For small story tellers:  larger pinch pot may also be used for the body - and a smaller pinch pot for the head - make sure there is a hole where the two attach. Fuse the head onto the larger pinch pot - score and slip.
3. Model and add the head and appendages. Make head hollow - be sure there is a hole in body where head is attached. There can not be trapped air. Strengthen arms and legs where they attach. Make mouth open as if telling a story.
4. Model and add all animals, children, etc. Sculpting, rather than drawing details is encouraged.
5. Check all joints - smooth any rough areas and allow to dry.
6. Bisque fire when bone dry.
7. Paint any clothing and details as desired - underglazes are a good choice. (projects can be dipped in clear glaze by the teacher). Watercolors or acrylics may also be used. Spray or brush on gloss acrylic for storytellers that have been painted with watercolors or acrylic.
8. Write the story for the storyteller.

Revisions

Make animals (cats - pets - fantasy animals) - Use Air dry clay - use Model Magic - Use Sculpey (polymer clay - Use paper clay.

Evaluation -- Did Students:
1. Use appropriate clay construction techniques? Include small figures to hear the story?
2. Smooth sculpture to give it a finished look?
3. Paint neatly? (or glaze neatly)
4. Make sure the spray coat fully covered the sculpture and was glossy as desired?
5. Sculpt details and not just draw them?

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