Lesson
Plan by Judy Decker
6th Grade Lesson Plans
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: War, Peace, Love
- 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) Talavera Sun
on the right.
4.
Demonstrations of making ceramic suns- showing emotions
5.
Demonstrations of various decorating techniques-
majolica, and underglaze
6.
Ceramic suns from Internet. Majolica examples from Internet
Resources:
Procedures:
1.
Review video on Picasso-
2.
Critique work of Picasso and Mexican artist Sandro B.
(from Internet)
[NOTE: I am unable to find this artist. Is there another name this artist goes by? Please let me know in the comments below if you know.]
3.
Review ceramic vocabulary
4.
Design sun face on 9" (23 cm) 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 Gonzalez 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:
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.