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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Properties of Clay

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders determine the physical properties of clay by examining ceramic works of art. They evaluate local soil samples for suitability for sculpting and compare clay taken from soil to manufactured clay.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson: Animal Journeys

For Teachers K - 5th
Here is a great way to get the brain going. Children look at an image of the sculpture, Jar and then imagine what an animal would look like as it moved inside the sculpture. They then use clay and cookie cutters to create a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Japanese Tea and Teacups

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Upper graders use the potter's wheel to make Japanese style tea cups, which they will use in a Japanese style tea ceremony. They hone their sculpting techniques while exploring Japanese cultural and the history of tea. There are two...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ceramic Wall Tile Murals

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Grab your class and start brainstorming an image you'd like to see as a mural. Included here are all the steps needed to design and create a ceramic wall mural. The kids come up with the drawings, then they each make a tile that will...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dig This: A Relief Sculpture of Dinosaur Bones

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
This is a truly amazing project. Perfect to use during your next dinosaur unit. Second and fifth graders work together to draw and make a relief sculpture of a nine foot-long stegosaurus. They discuss what paleontologists do and then...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Soil Testing

For Students 5th - 8th
Earth science learners experiment with the water-holding properties of sand, pebbles, and clay. They apply their findings to the building of a well. This activity is engaging and tactile, and it demonstrates the importance of considering...
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Activity
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GNS Science

Think like a Geologist: 1

For Teachers 5th - 6th
How well do pupils play the role of geologist? Test their abilities in the first installment of a two-part series. Presented with a series of rock formation diagrams, learners write stories to match what they see in the diagrams. The...
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Workbook
Smithsonian Institution

Ceramica de los Ancestros

For Students 3rd - 6th
Scholars join a field expedition team to unearth a plethora of treasures from Central America. Artifacts listed in alphabetical order come with an informational blurb and a picture designed for participants to color. Activity pages...
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Activity
Teach Engineering

Breaking the Mold

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
A little too much strain could cause a lot of stress. Groups conduct a strength test on clay. Using books as weights, pupils measure the compression of clay columns and calculate the associated strain and stress. Teams record their data...
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Interactive
Scholastic

Study Jams! Soil

For Students 4th - 8th
Seven superb slides sharpen science students' scoop on soil. In viewing them and reading the accompanying captions, your class will uncover the importance, different types, horizons, and protection of soil. They can then assess their new...
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Lesson Plan
AMCO

Whimsical Figures

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Clay is a wonderful and expressive medium for learners of any age. Kids get creative as they make whimsical figures out of clay. A hyperlinked materials list, images of each step in the process, and helpful tips makes this a great art...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pottery Quest

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars see that the production of ceramic pottery requires detailed knowledge of the physical properties of different clays and tempering materials, as well as knowledge about how these combine and react under specific firing...
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PPT
Curated OER

Daily Life in Spanish St. Augustine 1565-1763

For Students 6th - 8th
How do we know so much about the past? A student-crafted presentation provides viewers with images of artifacts from St. Augustine, Florida that give historians and archaeologists clues into lives already lived.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coil Vessels with Symbols

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore symbolism in Renaissance art, use ceramics vocabulary, and demonstrate craftsmanship in working with clay.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pottery with Artist Kerry Moosman

For Teachers 9th - 12th
After watching a video of Native American artist Maria Martinez create art out of clay, learners will create burnished coil pots similar to those made by artist, Kerry Moosman. This lesson includes a supply list, web links, historical...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clowing Around: Ceramics

For Teachers K - 8th
Clowns are a big hit with kids! Explore a few circus related websites to get an idea of how clowns look and what they do. They then build sculpting skills by creating expressive clown faces out of clay. Web links, materials list, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning from the past: Ancient Mosaics

For Teachers 10th
Budding artists study the history and significance behind ancient mosaics and mosaic murals. They study multiple examples of ancient mosaics, sketch a design, and use clay tiles to create thoughtful mosaics of their own. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gargoyles: Ceramics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Study the symbolism and significance of Gargoyles throughout the Gothic era, and then make one. Kids visit three different websites to learn about these goolish protectors, then hone their sculpting skills while making one. They make...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

This Ain't No Tea Party!

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Create food-safe bowls with your class, then organize a meal for the community using the class's bowls to serve. This lesson plan is based on the Empty Bowels Project, where school kids gain an understanding of global hunger through...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sand Shakes & Mud Pies: Investigating Sediment

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Take a field trip to a location where water and land meet to study patterns of sediment organization in wet habitats: river or ocean beaches, sand dunes, tidal marshes, the edge of a pond, or a woodland stream. Small groups collect pairs...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making a Chiminea

For Teachers 7th
A chiminea is an outdoor fireplace usually made from terracotta. Your class will make miniature versions of this useful heating device to practice specific sculpting techniques. This lesson spans four days. It includes vocabulary and an...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mini Masks: Ceramics

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Masks have been used for many reasons throughout human history. They are also great subjects for art projects! Included here are instructions, background information, and all the supplies needed to create mini masks in your class. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is Clay?

For Teachers Pre-K - 12th
This resource could come in handy the next time you feel like teaching about clay. Basic sculpting techniques, vocabulary, and history of clay are outlined in this informative resource. Use prior to teaching an art project involving...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mini Meals

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Learners discuss what makes a healthy and balanced meal, and then they make them out of clay. They use hand building techniques, radial design, and their knowledge of healthy foods to create unique mini-sized meals for a wall display.