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Lesson Plan by Judy Decker
6th Grade Lesson Plans   
                                       Week:
Unit:  Pablo Picasso- Cubism
Project:  Ceramic Sun

Objectives:

Art appreciation, art history- Pablo Picasso: Ceramic works

Understanding of traditional crafts (crafts vs. fine art)

Understanding ceramic vocabulary

Explore draped slab technique of forming clay

Develop skills in manipulating clay; decorating techniques

Utilize a variety of resources to inspire art

Motivation:

1.                  Review Video: Picasso Love, War and Peace- section on ceramics

2.                  Ceramic work by Picasso- from books and Internet (also Mexican folk Art suns)

3.                  Examples of ceramic suns (teacher made and student)

4.                  Demonstrations of making ceramic suns- showing emotions

5.                  Demonstrations of various decorating techniques- majolica, and underglaze

6.                  Ceramic suns from Internet.  Majolica examples form Internet

Resources:

Resources for this lesson were gathered years ago and printed for students.

Here is one link for contemporary Mexican Folk Art Suns:

http://www.lafuente.com/new/prod.php?menu=3&subid=150

Clay suns are still made in Mexico in a place called Metepec by the Nahua Indians, who are descendants of the Aztecs

Procedures:

1.                  Review  video on Picasso-

2.                  Critique work of Picasso and Mexican artist Sandro B. (from Internet )

3.                  Review ceramic vocabulary (text chapter 9)

4.                  Design sun face on 9" square tag board. Cut out with scissors

5.                  Wedge and roll out slab of clay (use guide sticks for uniform thickness)

6.                  Trace tag board sun onto clay- cut out with potter's needle

7.                  Drape over plaster hump

8.                  Add facial features- press or carve in, add by scoring and applying slip

9.                  Carve, press in patterns and textures

10.             Clean up edges- smooth

11.             Glaze after bisque firing- use underglazes with clear glaze over or use Majolica technique. 

Evaluation:

Student self-evaluation.

Student critique

Grade form:

6th  GRADE  Picasso - Ceramic Suns                                                                 name__________________

DESIGN                                   10            9              8              7              6              5       other     

CONSTRUCTION                   10            9              8              7              6              5           

CRAFTSMANSHIP                10            9              8              7              6              5       

PATTERNS/TEXTURES         10            9              8              7              6              5             

GLAZING                               10            9              8              7              6              5             

Clay Sun Faces
from Global Art
MEXICO

Young artists sculpt Metapec clay suns, creating their own facial
expressions and designs using any self-drying craft clay.

Did you know? Mexico is known for its many clay pottery and art forms.
Mexican artist Timoteo Gonzales is thought to be the first potter to make
the unusual and delightful clay suns, so much a part of Mexico's tourist
trade and folk art. These clay sculptures are called Metapec suns and are
painted in bright, expressive designs featuring a variety of facial
expressions.

Materials:

self-drying craft clay, such as Das, Pronto, Sculpey, Fimo or Crayola
Modeling Magic
rolling pin
kitchen knife
bright tempera paints and paintbrushes
clear spray hobby coating, optional

Process:

1. Work the clay by hand to soften it.
2. Place the clay on a work surface and roll it with a rolling pin to make a
slab about the size of a cereal bowl.
3. Cut a circle in the slab the size of the desired sun sculpture. Keep the
cut-away scraps of clay to add later for sun's rays and facial features.
4. Think of an expression to put on the sun's face. Sometimes it helps to
make faces in a mirror noticing eyebrows, mouth shape and cheeks. Mold
features into the sun's face. Holes can be cut for eyes, nose and mouth or
added with more clay. Add designs and features to the face with the cut-away
scraps. The rays of the sun can influence the expression of the face based
on their design, such as straight, sharp, wiggle, thick or pointy.
5. Poke a small hole in the top of the sun for hanging it on a nail when
dry.
6. When the sun's facial expression and rays are complete, allow the clay to
dry until hard. Depending on the type of clay product selected, this is
usually overnight.
7. When the clay is dry, paint the sun's features with bright tempera
paints. Let the paint dry.
8. To make the sun sculpture shiny, an adult may spray with a clear hobby
coating.
9. When dry, hang the sun face on the wall, on a fence or in a courtyard or
patio area.

Copyright © 2004 Bright Ring Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Used here with permission.

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