Clay Pinch Pots (Peer Lesson)



 

     This project incorporated the use creating a pinch pot with clay and using symbols to represent ourselves or important aspects of our lives.  We first learned about ancient civilizations and how they used pottery and the symbols they incorporated into their pottery.  One good thing about this media is that clay can be used in varying levels of complexity, and therefore, can be used in younger classrooms or with older students. 

 

    

     Instructions: 

  1.  We first put newspapers down on desks to protect our area. 

  2.  We were then each given a 'lump' of clay and was asked to knead the clay to remove air bubbles. 

  3.  Once the clay had been kneaded, we rolled the clay into a ball and pressed our thumbs into the middle of the clay and turned it in a circular motion. 

  4.  When we had shaped the clay into a pinch pot of the desired size and thickness, we smoothed out the surface with our fingers and water. 

  5.  Then we carved our designs and symbols into the pinch pot and allowed the pot to dry. 

  6.  Once dry, we painted the pot and added any remaining symbols that were not carved into the clay. 

  7.  To finish this project, we needed to create a symbol key explaining what each of the symbols meant to us or represented. 



     
          Extension Activity:
     One particular activity I found to extend this lesson was to use the same techniques as we did with our clay pinch pots to create ceramic animals- in this case, fish.  It is not much more complicated than the pinch pot, except for having to mold the clay into the shape of a fish rather than a pinch pot.  This would be for a lower elementary classroom, and can be used when studying fish or during an art class.