Outcomes:  To learn how to form a vessel from clay that is functional as well as beautiful (the concept of form following function) incorporating the ‘pinch pot’ method of construction., as well as some art history that incorporates animal forms, particularly pre-Columbian pottery from Costa Rica and surrounding area.

Materials: Low fire clay that is rated for use with elementary children, low fire under glazes of at least three colors and clear over-glaze that is rated dinner ware safe and safe for use with elementary children, cloth or tough paper for tables, plastic bags, visual examples in the form of pictures and/or a completed piece.

Art History:  Look at pieces of pottery that are works of art, but are also functional from history that incorporate animal forms.  Examples include: Pre Columbian pottery from Costa Rica as well as the surrounding area.  A good website to look at is http://www.prehispanicpottery.com/costarica.htm.   It has a good overview of many pottery styles, with lovely pictures, maps and explanations.

Steps

1. Have tables covered in cloth or paper before hand, taped down, so that the clay does not stick to the surface of the table.  Nothing sadder than a Kindergartner trying to scrape their project off the table when they worked on it for an entire period.
2. Have fist sized balls of clay ready for the pinch pots ahead of time, one for each student and one for a demonstration if necessary, and another ball of clay about half that size for the body parts that will be stuck on.
3. Take a look at examples, showing the form of the pot and the decorative additions of ‘animal’ forms-legs, arms, tales, heads.  Talk about where the pottery came from and who made it (see website) briefly.  Talk about what the different pots might have been used for, and take the children’s ideas as well.
4. Using the example already made (a turtle is very easy), talk about the construction of the pot using the pinch pot method-insert thumb into a ball of clay and then using thumb on the inside and the rest of the fingers on the outside, gently pinch a small pot, turning clay and increasing the size of the pot and thinness of the walls. 
5. Using a pinch small amount of clay show how to make a head, tale and legs, and then, stressing the this must be done quickly as children are too young to be successful with the slip and score method of construction, they can press the additions onto the pot, placing them as if the pot was the body of the turtle.  Talk about being careful with the amount of clay that one has, as you have to make the body with one ball and ALL of the pieces with the other ball. 
6. Have children sit in places and pass out first ball of clay for pinch pots.
7. As children as making little pinch pots, walk around and help when needed and then talk about method.  Have them do so quickly and don’t let them ‘redo’ more than once as clay will dry out and become crumbly.
8. When the child has made a pinch pot, pass out second ball of clay, telling them to divide it up into the pieces they want to make-head, tail, legs-and help them press the clay pieces on where needed.
9. When the child is finished with construction, check pieces for ‘sturdiness’-are they going to come off when drying-and press in when necessary, write the children’s name on the bottom, and put up to dry to green ware.
10. When the clay is green ware (all water is as air dried out of clay as it is going to be-room temperature to the touch is a good way to tell) fire in kiln, following the instructions on the kiln and clay.  This will take about a week, depending on humidity in the air and temperature of clay storage.
11. The next period after clay is fired, review the pre-Columbian pottery, and talk about glazes.  Note the patterns and tiny shapes.
12. Using a small amount of underglaze poured into cups and little paintbrushes, have the children paint on little details, using only two to three colors.
13. When the glaze is dry, teacher will put the clear glaze over the under glaze, and fire following the instructions on the glazes and the kiln.

also see: Art Project for Third to Fourth Grade Impressionist Landscapes

A-Lesson-Plan-for-Kindergarten-Art-Clay-Tiles

A-Lesson-Plan-for-Kindergarten-Art-Paper-Houses

An-Art-Lesson-Plan-for-First-Through-Third-Grade–To-Illustrate-a-Point

/A-Drawing-Lesson-Plan-for-Shading-Kindergarten-Through-Sixth-Grade