Clay Literacy Teapots - Ceramics Unit (middle & high school art) 8 weeks

Hi Teachers,

I use this lesson for middle school and advanced high school ceramics art courses! Students will build a functional teapot based on a literacy theme using clay! This unit is part of my Ceramics Curriculum! This unit focuses on Functional sculpture.

This unit/lesson does not teach beginner level techniques, however this unit is VERY detailed oriented. This unit it is for students who already have knowledge on working with ceramics, clay and understand fundamental hand building techniques.

Students will apply their knowledge about clay techniques and processes (handbuilding) and experiment further to create a teapot and tea cups based on a literacy theme, story or character. They should use their creativity to design a teapot with a cohesive look that is interesting from all sides.

Students will apply their skills of handbuilding in ceramics to create a functional teapot Students will learn to create a  body for the tea pot out of slump molds, hump molds or slabs. Students will experiment with correct placement of the spout, and handle so the liquid does not spill out of the spout. Students will learn how to create a pulled handle and make a knob with a flange that fits the size of their tea pot opening. 

Students will complete guiding questions and create thumbnail sketches before starting the project. Student will read other student responses and see student work before starting. There are examples of written responses and student work. Your class will critique the work together and read responses to essentially get an idea for how they can create a functional teapot based on a literacy theme.

Students will do a reflection/ artist statement at the end of the unit. Teacher can lead students in a critique at any point of the lesson!

This project will take your students a full marking period (8 WEEKS) to complete and will be the highlighted feature at your school art show!!!! Show students the powerpoint presentation, there are teacher steps to follow (demonstrations) and students steps (thumbnail sketches, directions and student examples). The lesson plan is very detailed and will tell you exactly what to do if you are hesitant about teaching students to create teapots for the first time. Everything you need is all included!

The ZIP file includes:

➢1 Literacy teapot lesson plan 19 pages (editable)

➢2 Literacy teapot PowerPoint 52 pages (editable)

➢3 Literacy teapot planning sheet, guiding questions and sketches (my students examples) 2 pages

➢4 Rounded Teapot step by step handout (pdf not editable) 8 pages

➢5 Slab Cylinder teapot step by step handout (pdf not editable) 3 pages

➢6 Literacy teapot Artist statement & reflective thinking questions 4 pages (editable)

➢7 The six stages of clay handout - art of ed- (not editable)

➢8 Printable spout template

➢9 Literacy teapot Rubrics (2 rubrics)

➢10 Student artwork

➢11 Literacy teapot pacing handout

➢12 Critique Handout -canva pdf (not editable)

➢13 Critique Handout (editable word doc)

➢14 (2 of my video links teaching how to roll a slab)

This resource also includes:

Objectives & Essential Questions

Supplies

Editable rubric

Student Steps

Teacher Steps 

Project steps

Art history and contemporary artists work (Yixing teapot - art history)

Student response examples 

Student artwork

Many assessments

Critiques (editable and pdf versions created by me!!!)

Please leave me some feedback to earn TpT credit if you enjoyed this lesson! <3 Cris