Animals

Meet The Teacher: Jennifer

Former public school art teacher turned community art studio owner/operator who loves to encourage artists of all ages! In our studio we teach a vast array of artistic media to people of all ages, fostering creativity, community, and making lasting memories!

Project Description

Students use pinch, slab, modeling, and combination handbuilding techniques to create animals with character. Students are encouraged to brainstorm a story about their animal, to help them decide what characteristics they want to embody in their piece.

Materials

Grade Level

High School

Difficulty

Intermediate

Student Hands-On Time

30-90 minutes average

Teacher Prep Time

10 minutes

Project Cost / Cost Per Student

5

21st Century Skills

  • Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving
  • Creativity & Innovation
  • Collaboration
  • Information Literacy
  • Media Literacy
  • ICT (Information, Communications, and Technology) Literacy
  • Flexibility & Adaptability
  • Initiative & Self-Direction
  • Social & Cross-Cultural Skills

STEAM Education

  • Arts

Differentiations and Accommodations

Differentiation

IEP

Accommodation

Students may receive any extra support and extensions needed to complete the project. Including, but not limited to, extra time, more support, reduce work load, and more.

Learning Objectives: Knowledge

Students will brainstorm and design animal forms that have character. Students will use slab, pinch, modeling, and combination handbuilding techniques to custruct their animal in clay. Students will write a brief (3-5 sentence minimum) story about their animal character. Students will use appropriate finishing techniques to complete their animal character.

Learning Objectives: Skills

Students will acquire practice using handbuilding techniques. Students will brainstorm, review, and select the best characteristics for their animal. Students will create a finished story and ceramic animal form.

Learning Objectives: Attitudes/Values

Students are encouraged to be creative and think outside of the box. Students are encouraged to brainstorm and discuss characteristics with their peers, as well as providing feedback to each other throughout the process.

Formative Assessment

Students will receive Studio Mindset grades for each day and activity throughout the project.

Summative Assessment

Students will use grading rubric that they help design, to grade their works.

Reflection and Discussion

Once the project is completed, everyone is given reflection sheets for them to look back at the processes; what went well, where they struggled, etc

Lesson Activities

Brainstorming

Students will collectively discuss characteristics, focusing on unique and interesting characteristics of storybook characters or individuals in movies, etc. Students individually brainstorm characteristics they would like to represent in their animals. Students will then discuss with peers and decide which characteristics they want to give their animals, and discuss ways they can do it.

Planning

Students will create 3 sketches of their animal with possible ways to show their selected characteristics. After a quick "work in progress" peer review, students will select their favorite sketch, or create another, to use as the guide for creating their animal.

Constructing Animals

Students will begin creating their animal forms. This may take 2-3 class periods, depending on timing.

Writing a Breif Story

While the animals are drying and firing, students will write a 3-5 paragraph short story about their animal character.

Finishing the Animals

Students will use their preferred finishing methods to complete the animals characters.