The majority of their motor skills were pretty good and able to pinch without much assistance but however there are still a handful who needed some form of help and supervision. Basically all did well.
the reference i used is the one they are most familiar with on their wall infront of them which they look at every day in class
This is how they look like after firing first layer of underglaze at 1000 degree celcius; resulting in a seemingly flat matt finishing. After this, they will be coated with a layer of glossy glaze and then fired at above 1260 degree celcius to achieve a glossy finishing.
L01: open vessel w/stylised design.. Its wonderful to have 3 classes of 120 students packed on the same day same place back to back. I love it esp when it comes to ceramics. Strangely i perspire so much less during ceramics classes like these ones even though the class room may be pretty stuffy and warm. There is like as though something really really tranquillising and cooling about ceramics classes even though there is always so many students, noise, activity going on during ceramics classes But the feeling is always so complete and at peace. I think there is oso something about the clay dust in the atmosphere which oso contributes…
L02: Closed Vessel
only 15 mins for them to complete cos they were held up during assembly time.. hence with minimal design
L03: soap or trinklet dish
L03: Soap dish or trincklet dish
4A did a great job
L04: individual animal sculpting
All in all about a total of about 900 pieces of ceramics artworks
First lesson: Task is for each pupil to make a functional container which can be a cup/bowl/minipot/etc
via pinching, an age old technique as old as human history/existence itself
with stylised design elements
Beginning of group project, theme: Abstract, Creature (Yay! my all time favourite!:)
Project theme: Animal, abstract..ok the the dinosaur bird looking creature is more creature and too animation and abit off the theme of animal and abstract..and the cat is not abstract enough..ok 2 more lessons to correct it..
Day 1: Character Design & Coloring Using Acrylic Paint
Day 2: Robot Construction Using Recycled Paper
All the children’s work turn out fantastique!!! 😀
Day 3: Coloring Recycled Robot Using Acrylic Paint
Day 4: Design & Create Christmas Gingerbread Monsters
Day 5: Character Realisation & Fabrication: “roll the clay into a ball. Roll into the shape of an egg. Roll into the shape of a baby carrot. Tear drop.” were basically my instructions for them as these were the basic shapes that make up the baby bird. Instructions need to be really simple and easy to understand as they were all between nursery to k1, better still, have instructions that can immediately trigger off clear vivid mental images they are able to relate with, so as oso to enhance their learning. Also i kept emphasising over and over again to not hammer the clay or flatten until so thin like a pizza which they have a tendency to do so and can be fond of doing even. Also constant reminders not to over pull the clay as to avoid the messy ‘spider web’. I also taught them how to pinch clay, roll, mould, shape etc. bcos for the younger ones, their psychomotor skills are still not fully developed or started developing. I also made sure they maintain a “safe” visible distance away from their artwork in-process as not to accidentally damage their art work especially when they get excited during kneading as the clay is extremely soft. Also i made sure i check and closely supervise their work at every stage as to make sure the proportion, shape and positioning of all the birds’ body parts were correct and that every child receives the same amount of attention, care and supervision. I feel that for 3D modelling like this, especially organic shapes involved, plenty of classroom management is needed and I am glad everything turned out real well and they were all happy with the outcome of their learning😊
I conducted this intensive 60-hours ceramics course for a total of about 1000 students. However, in actual fact, i spent over 200 hours as a result of alot of preparation work needed to be done, touching up, cleaning up etcetcetc.
Here are some of the children’s work from P3,4,5,6. Of all fine arts, I find teaching Ceramics most enjoyable and most fascinating. However the amounts of prep work is simply too much. Unless all the extra hours are all being factored in, it would be hardly possible to run something as intensive as this again.
Nevertheless, the kids are wonderful and i enjoyed teaching them very much:)