Course Syllabus

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Ceramics 9

Faculty: Ms. M Pavlovic

Course Description

The Ceramics 9 course is a half-year elective.

The course will cover hand-building /sculpture and throwing on the electric wheel. Students will be challenged by projects that reinforce and consolidate their hand-building skills, as well as develop their creative problem-solving abilities.

The throwing portion of the course will revise and reinforce existing skills and expand their vocabulary of thrown forms.

Each class will begin with varied short drawing assignments which will emphasize the value of drawing for research and planning.

Students will be given a thorough introduction to glazes and glazing techniques. They will be encouraged to keep conscientious records of all glazes used and they will be asked to document and reflect on their results.

Students will be given context as they are introduced to the history of ceramics and to the narratives of First Nations peoples through a research-based project. The vocabulary of thoughtful critique will be introduced.

Students will be expected to learn to clean up effectively and participate in the studio community.

 

Curriculum Overview                                                

Term

Learning

All

Understand
(Big Ideas)

Art making for self-expression Making art for life: and art’s place in all aspects of our lives, historically, contemporarily, and as a reflection of our culture.  Ceramics is the memory of humanity and as such the process of making ceramics embodies universal human values.

Do

(Competencies)

Creative process

  • Creation of structurally sound sculptures with clay using modelling, slab building and coiling techniques.
  • Throw forms on the potter’s wheel and refine pots using a variety of processes.
  • Paint and glaze ceramics using a variety of techniques.

Sketchbook projects

  • Drawing from observation, planning drawings, drawing from memory and imagination.
  • Researching artists and sourcing inspirational materials, reflecting on experiences, documenting concepts and techniques. Exploring aesthetics and developing personal ideas, documenting art works and producing a portfolio.

Problem solving

  • Testing and exploring concepts and ideas.

Core competencies

  • Working within a ceramics studio demands that students demonstrate the full range of core competencies. All students are expected to contribute to the running of the studio and in doing this they learn to be responsible, humble and empathetic. No jobs are too menial and all need to be done in order to function effectively.

Studio maintenance

  • Using and caring for tools, keeping the studio clean.
  • Participating in clay recycling/processing.
  • Being aware of health and safety in a clay studio.

Know

(Content)
  • Elements and principles of design in the visual arts
  • Know the material properties of clay, ceramics and glaze.
  • Know the working rhythms of the studio.
  • Know how to work within a community that is regulated by the particular needs of the ceramics program.
  • Know about the importance of health and safety in the ceramics studio.
  • Know about the context of ceramics at school, in the community, historically and culturally, and in terms of contemporary culture.
  • Begin to know self through personal exploration, research, artistic expression.
  • Know about First peoples’ principles and their relevance to art and culture

 

Assessment and Evaluation

Assessment Categories and weighting: Gr. 8 & 9

Students are assigned projects based on themes reflecting historical, cultural, and contemporary ceramics and sculpture.  A wide variety of techniques are introduced to facilitate exploration for individual student’s self-expression.  Collaboration is central to all activities in the ceramic studio, and students are expected to work together in all aspects of studio life.

Students will be assessed in one on one meetings and group critiques and submitted sketchbooks/ projects.  Grades will be calculated based on the following categories:

Sketchbook:  10%

  • Drawing - Observation/ Imagination
  • Documentation
  • Reflection

Risk Taking and Creativity in 3-D form: 20%

  • Pushing technical and aesthetic boundaries to progress in a variety of skills
  • Creative exploration and development of 3-D form (Eg. Maquettes / practicing forms on the potter’s wheel) 
  • Experimenting/ playing with materials

Surface treatment (Glazing / Painting): 20%

  • Application of glazing or painting processes to finish a piece
  • Resolution of any final design problems through the skillful manipulation of elements and principles of design.
  • Technical mastery of processes
  • Waxing or cleaning bases of pieces for a suitably refined appearance

Wheel Throwing Process (potter’s wheel): 20%

  • Wedging clay
  • Centering clay
  • Pulling walls
  • Shaping/ forming walls
  • Trimming/ finishing pots

Sculpture/ Handbuilding-20%

  • Pinching/modeling clay
  • Slab Building
  • Coil Building
  • Molding (plaster or bisc mold)

Studio Community: 10%

  • Working Collaboratively
  • Contributing to community & caring for studio environment.
  • Solving problems in peaceful ways and valuing diversity.
  • Cleaning up and maintaining tools and equipment.

Resources

  • Ceramics studio library
  • Canvas resource page
  • Websites as appropriate

Course Expectations

  • Completion of all projects and assignments.
  • Functional projects
  • Sculptural assignments
  • Sketchbook work
  • Studio community.

We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are honoured to live, work, and play on this land together.

As part of contribution to reconciliation, this course makes First Peoples Principles of Learning (Links to an external site.) visible in class by using contemporary First People’s art within the context of the lesson. In particular, artists who investigate the practice of identity and land.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due