Sgraffito Plates

Project Video

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18AzccMQYi/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Meet The Teacher: Teresa Gilchrist

I teach high school ceramics at Hamilton High in Chandler, Arizona. I have a BFA in Ceramics, MA in Art Education, and this is my 15th year of teaching.

Project Description

Students will make a plate using a slab and sturdy paper plate mold. Once leather-hard, they will apply underglaze or colored slip and decorate with the sgraffito technique.

Materials

  • Clay
  • Sturdy paper plate mold
  • Assorted clay tools such as rib, pin tool, fettling knife
  • Underglaze or colored slip
  • Paint brushes
  • Sgraffito tools (loop tools, paper clips, pencils)
Download Material List

Grade Level

High School

Difficulty

Intermediate

Student Hands-On Time

About 5 to 7 class periods

Teacher Prep Time

Prep the slideshow, materials, and demonstration (about an hour)

Project Cost / Cost Per Student

2.75

National Core Arts Standards - Visual Arts

  • Creating - Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas.
  • Creating - Organize and develop artistic work.
  • Creating - Conceiving and developing new artistic ideas and work.
  • Presenting - Develop skills for artistic presentation and exhibition.
  • Responding - Perceive and analyze artistic work.
  • Responding - Interpret intent and meaning in artwork.
  • Responding - Evaluate and critique based on aesthetic and technical qualities.
  • Connecting - Relate artistic ideas to historical, cultural, and social contexts.
  • Connecting - Connect personal experiences with artmaking and meaning.

21st Century Skills

  • Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving
  • Creativity & Innovation
  • Communication
  • Flexibility & Adaptability
  • Initiative & Self-Direction
  • Productivity & Accountability

STEAM Education

  • Arts

Differentiations and Accommodations

Differentiation

IEP

Accommodation

Grade on effort and allow simpler designs

Learning Objectives: Knowledge

Students will learn how to make a plate using a slump mold. Students will learn about sgraffito, what mashes a successful design, and how to create a sgraffito design.

Learning Objectives: Skills

Students will acquire patience, creativity, problem solving skills, and the sgraffito technique

Learning Objectives: Attitudes/Values

Creativity and problem solving

Formative Assessment

Frequent check ins with students as they work

Summative Assessment

I grade projects once glaze fired with a rubric

Lesson Activities

View Sgraffito Slide Show

I spend one class period going through a slideshow that shows examples of sgraffito and explains a slump mold.

Sketches

Students create a preliminary sketch

Plate demo

I demonstrate how to made a plate using the slab roller or rolling pins and a slump mold (sturdy paper plate).

Underglaze Demo

I do this while we wait for our plates to get leather hard. You can speed up the drying process with hair dryers. I show the students how to apply 2 to 3 even coats of underglaze. They color sketches during drying time as well.

Sgraffito Demo

I show examples of good designs and we look at Kathy King’s work. I show them how to use a variety of tools for sgraffito to get different line types.

Glaze Demo (after bisque)

Show students how to apply clear glaze to the bisque fired piece.