Elementary Visual School Arts

Name of Unit: Ceramic Pinch Pots

Lesson Plans Brief Description Pacing

Introduction to clay:
Where does clay come
from and what it is used
for? Form vs. Shape

Make a pinch pot using
ceramic clay

Add texture

Cut out shapes(circles-

flat)

Forms – clay (spheres-

three-dimensional)

Pinch pots

Session 1 – Introduce

clay –shapes, forms,

allow students to explore

Session 2 – Create pinch

pot and review

Concepts

(students need to

know)

Skills

(students need to be

able to do)

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Levels

Origin of clay

Shapes vs. Forms

Uses of clay

Appropriate clay
vocabulary

Elements of Art: shape,
form, texture

Effectively use hand

building techniques to

form a sphere

Effectively open the

sphere to create a pot

Use clay tools and

stamps to add texture to

pinch pot

Effectively use firing or

non-firing finishes

including glaze, paint or

washes to add color to

pinch pot

1. Remembering


2. Understanding


3. Applying

Essential Questions Corresponding Big Ideas
Where does clay come from?

What is clay used for?

How can clay be hardened?

Clay safety

Air bubbles

What is a kiln?