How Does What We Need Influence What We Create? An Exploration of Clay Through a Year-Long Ceramics Curriculum. Grades 9-12.

This curriculum is written for an introductory ceramics course for students in grades 9-12. Generally, an introductory ceramics course is highly skill-based, focusing on basic techniques for working with clay. Clay is a challenging medium to use because it is difficult to get the feel of the appropriate moisture content for achieving desired outcomes. Because of this, students require lots of practice with the variety of techniques in order to feel as though they have mastered the medium. By employing a curriculum centered around a “big idea”, rather than skills and techniques, this become not just craftspeople, but also artists who work in clay.  Through this curriculum, students will consider how human needs have inspired ceramic arts for thousands of years.

Click to Download Year-Long Ceramics Curriculum