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Triad Slab Pot

Lesson Plan, Grades 5-12, Math, Art, Science, Ceramics & Sculptures, 3-D

Description

Lesson Plan and Artwork by Eric Orr

This lesson is based on Euclidian geometry in the creation of a decorated slab pot. The pot has three equal sides forming an equilateral triangle. The triangle is also equiangular having 60 degrees in each angle. A triangle always has angels totaling 180 degrees.

Objectives

Students will create an equal sided triangular slab pot from clay.

Students will decorate each side with impressed designs.

Students will glaze their pot based on color wheel triad colors.

Supplies Needed

Mayco® Design Pattern Tool, Native American Designs, 1 3/4" dia., Set of 2
Mayco® Decorative Pattern Press Tool Set, 5/8", Set of 2
Mayco® Stroke & Coat Glaze, Set A, Assorted Colors, 2 oz. bottle, Set of 12
Mayco® Stroke & Coat Glaze, Set B, Assorted Colors, 2 oz. bottle, Set of 12
Mayco® Clay Seaside Design Press Tool Set, 1 3/4" dia., Set of 4
Sax® Low Fire Moist Earthenware Clay, Cream White, 50 lbs.
Clay Slabmaking Kit
Ceramic Brush Set, Pack of 16
Boxwood Modelers, 6", Set of 10
Fettling Knife, 4 1/2"
*Here are the supplies needed for this lesson plan for reference. Find a convenient carousel of shoppable products for this lesson below.

Standards

Standard #1: Generated and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
Standard #3: Refine and complete artistic work.
Standard #5: Develop and refine artistic work for presentation.

Instructions

1

Roll out 1-1/2 lbs. of clay into a 1/4" thick slab.

2

Cut out three rectangular slabs each 3" x 4".

3

For the base, re-wedge remaining clay and roll it into a 5" circle, also 1/4" thick.

4

Press Mayco® Press Tools into the center of each rectangle. Decorate the borders with a frame using a Xiem Art Roller.

5

Score slab and join the bottoms and ends of each rectangle, thus forming an equilateral triangle. Attach to the 5" clay base.

6

Using soft clay, roll a long coil the diameter of a pencil. Place this reinforcing coil inside the pot between the base and three panels; smooth it into the joint.

7

At the outside joint of the three panels, score, slip and press three short clay coils into the corner joint and smooth.

8

Trim the base along the bottom, creating your equilateral pot form.

9

Bevel the top edges and check pot for smoothness and craftsmanship overall.

10

Dry pot to leather-hard or bone dry.

11

Student should study the color wheel and choose a triad color scheme (three colors evenly spaced around the wheel). These colors might be three primaries, three secondaries or three tertiary (intermediate) colors.

12

Choose Mayco® Stroke & Coat® colors that match your color motif and apply three coats to your pot. Be sure to allow glaze to dry between coats (it will become dull).