Lesson Title Art Form Grade LevelTime Capsule Jar Ceramics 4

Grade Level Theme Key Concept LinkTime Past/Present/Future History and Science

ChallengeCreate a lidded ceramic jar using pinch pot and coil construction. Find or create a contemporary artifact to store in the time capsule jar.

Assessment Standards

COMMUNICATE Students will collaborate and work independently to brainstorm ideas for both the form of

their ceramic jar and the artifact for their ceramic jar.

CREATE Students will use pinch pot construction, coil construction, and “score, wet, weld”

technique to create a lidded ceramic time capsule jar. Students will glaze their ceramic vessels using colors that reflect their personal connection

to their art work (e.g. favorites colors, colors of their flag, school colors, etc.).

RESPOND Students will view and critique each other’s final glaze ware pieces. Then students will discuss what they like and dislike about each other’s final glaze ware

pieces.

CONNECT Define the terms: artifact, archeologist, and time capsule. Discuss the importance of art and artifacts, and how they teach us about history and

culture. Ask students what their time capsule jar and artifact will tell future archeologist about them

and their culture.Supplies and Materials Images and Resources

White or red earthenware clay.

Clay tools and sponges. Damp paper towels. Low-fire glazes

(recommend Mayco Stroke & Coat).

Pencil and paper.

Drent’s Museum website:http://www.drentsmuseum.nl/fileadmin/_temp_/Folder_DSS_ENG.pdf

Israel Antiquities Authority website:http://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/learn-about-the-scrolls/discovery-and-publication

Personal Photos of Student Work

Time Allotment Alternate Approaches 1st session: Planning 2nd session: Construction 3rd session: Glazing More sessions as needed.

Acrylic or watercolor paint instead of glaze.

Notes

First have students fill-out their planning sheet individually. Then have them share their ideas in either small table groups or meet-up at the carpet and share as a class.

Instruct students on the use of constructive critique phrases and questions:o “I like how you __________ because__________”.o “Next time you may want to try __________ because__________”.o “This reminds me of __________”.

Artifact definition from Merriam Webster online. Archeologist definition from Dictionary.com online. Time Capsule definition from Merriam Webster online. Pinch pot base:

o First, smoosh down the pointy corners of your cube of clay using firm, gentle pressure.

o Second, hold your ball of clay in the palm of one hand.o Then, take your free pointer finger and gently poke the center of your clay ball

about halfway down.o Next, get your crocodile hand ready and start gently squeezing the walls of your

pinch pot all the way around.o Then, gently push the bottom of your pinch pot on top of the table to flatten the

bottom. Cut up thin plastic drop clothes to use to wrap unfinished clay pieces. Organize glazes by color and have students move around the room with their piece on a

tray as opposed to having students move the glaze around. Allow some time for critique when finished glaze fired pieces are handed back to students

to take home.

BEST PRACTICES FOR TEACHING AND LEARNINGCreate a Student-Centered Learning Environment

Arrangement of Classroom  

Safe and Positive Environment

Relationships

Plan and Teach for Student Learning Content Knowledge  

Engagement

  Teacher Collaboration

Assess Student Learning Goal Setting and Reflection

Checking for Understanding

Assessments  

Lesson Session

Time Capsule Jar 1

Engage Present Time Capsule Jar PowerPoint:

o What is an artifact? Define artifact: a simple object (such as a tool or weapon) that was made

by people in the past.o What is an archeologist?

Define archeologist: a specialist in archaeology, the scientific study of prehistoric peoples and their cultures by analysis of their artifacts, inscriptions, monuments, etc.

o What is a time capsule? Define time capsule: a container filled with things from the present time

and that is meant to be opened by people at some time in the future.o Do you think they’re old or new? What makes you says that?o Why are these jars (i.e. dead sea scrolls) important?o What did the jars do?o Show, describe, and explain coil construction and “score, wet, weld” technique.

Develop Present Challenge:

o “Create a lidded ceramic jar using coil construction. Find or create a contemporary artifact to store in the time capsule jar.”

o What objects, people, and customs are important to your culture?o How could your jar and artifact show that?

Create Pass out planning sheets and drawing paper (for sketches). Instruct students to fill-out their planning sheet individually. Then have students share their ideas in either small table groups or meet-up at the carpet

and share as a class. If time allows, demo the process of creating a lidded coil jar Remind students that clay will shrink when its fired so they need to make their jars bigger

than the artifact.

Reflect Ask students to complete the statement:

o “My jar and artifact will tell future historians that _________because_________”.

Lesson Session

Time Capsule Jar 2

Engage Review the discussion from last session:

o “What did we talk about last class?”o “What will we be doing today?”o “What are some important things to remember when we’re working with clay?”

Develop Review and demo the process of constructing a lidded coil jar:

o Make a pinch pot base.o Roll out several coils.o Score the circumference of the pinch pot base and score a coil.o Dip finger into small container of water and apply it to scored parts.o Weld the coil to the pinch pot base.o Continue adding coils.o Smooth the inside seams using a clay tool or popsicle stick.o Create lid by scoring, wetting, and welding one long coil and spiraling it in a circle.o Weld the two ends of one coil together to create a lip for the lid.o Attach the lip to the lid by scoring, wetting, and welding.o Attach a knob or handle using same attachment method described above.

Create Distribute clay and tools. Allow students to form base and roll several coils. Assist as necessary. Remind students to refer to their sketches while constructing their jars. Allow time for students to cleanup. Any unfinished work can be spritzed with water and stored in plastic.

Reflect Tell an elbow neighbor one technique you learned for building a coil vessel.

Lesson Session

Time Capsule Jar 3

Engage Review the last session:

o What have we done with our jars and artifacts so far?o Our jars have been bisque fired, so what do we need to do to them today?

Develop Review glazing instructions and demo:

o Glaze is not paint; it does not look like the color it will be after it is fired and goes through a chemical change.

o So choose colors according to the labels.o You need two or three coats of glaze otherwise the clay will show through and

look patchy.o Do not glaze the bottom of your piece or it will stick to the kiln shelf forever.

Create Students get their bisque fired piece and a tray to carry it with. Students move throughout the room and glaze their piece. Allow time for cleanup. Early finishers may help with cleanup jobs or create their artifact if they’re making a scroll

to put in their finished jar.

Reflect What did you find the most challenging about this project? What was your favorite part about this project? Students will also fill out an artist statement sheet.

Name: ______________________________ Date: ________________

4th Grade Time Capsule JarPlanning Sheet

What artifact would you like a future archeologist to find? _______________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What will this artifact tell an archeologist about you? _______________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Will you bring in this artifact or create this artifact? _______________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Make three sketches of possible designs for your lidded ceramic jar on a piece of drawing paper. Think about: What shape should your jar be? About how tall and how wide will you make your jar? What sort of coil decorations will you use?

Name: ______________________________ Date: ________________

4th Grade Time Capsule JarArtist Statement

I chose _________________________________________________________

to be the artifact I put inside my lidded time capsule jar

because it will tell future historians that _________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

was important to me and my culture. Also, I chose the colors

________________________________________________________________________

because ______________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________.