Miss Loring

Yin-Yang Opposites-3D Ceramics/ 10th-12th grade/ 3 weeks to teach lesson

(13 days, 45min classes)
Goals:
Students will think critically about the concept of yin-yang and opposite
relationships. Students will discover different ways to construct their two forms
though handbuilding coils and wheel throwing methods. They will have to combine
their two opposite forms and bring them together to create one form/vessel through
organic and mechanical textures.
Objectives:
1. Students will discuss yin-yang and opposites through talking about opposite
relationships such as friends or family and how they can still get along with each other.
(VA:Cr2.1.Ia )
Critical Thinking, Complex Communication

2. Students will further analyze yin-yang and opposites by conversing with each other and
writing a personal story of a time they met someone who was very different from them, but
yet they enjoyed being around the person. (such as friends, neighbors, or family)
(VA:Re.7.1.Ia, VA:Re8.1.Ia )
Complex Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking

3. Students will brainstorm the ideas of opposites and Yin-Yang by creating a list of ideas
for their ceramics pieces. (VA:Cr2.3.Ia)
Flexibility and Adaptability, Critical Thinking

4. Students will connect their ideas of Yin-Yang and opposites and then bring these
concepts together into one form. Students will focus on organic and mechanical surface
manipulation and textures.(VA:Cn10.1.Ia )
Creativity, Flexibility and Adaptability

5. Students will have an in-progress critique individually with me. I believe the 9th graders
would receive more positive feedback from me and I can give them constructive feedback
as well. I will help give ideas for students to finish their clay forms.
(VA:Pr5.1.7a) P
roductivity and Accountability, Complex Communication

6. Students will successfully complete their Opposite Vessel project, which will depict
opposites of organic and mechanical textures brought together to create harmony.
Students will fill out a self evaluation rubric to grade themselves on their project. Later I
will grade their project as well. (VA:Pr5.1.7a) P
roductivity and Accountability

Prerequisites:
Glazing basics
Coil basics
Materials: Blick Dick
Low-fire white clay
ceramic tools
rolling pin

glazes
brushes
plastic/tape to wrap up pieces
Ecto Knives
Cardboard
hot glue
Safety Hazards:
Make sure everyone is careful while using the ceramic tools, they are sharp. Make sure
students wear hot glue gun gloves for protection when creating cardboard cutouts. Make
sure to wash your hands after handling glazes, because they have oxides in them.
Vocabulary Words:
Mechanical Process of Forms:
A more structured and machinal way to form a vessel. Using

the potter's wheel is an example, or using geometric patterns and straight forms.
Organic Process of Forms:
A more natural way to create movement in clay. There are
more bends, hand marks, and flow into the pieces. This form can carry a lot of texture.
Yin-Yang:
Opposites which create harmony.
Coil building:
B
uilding a ceramic vessel using many clay coils to create the ceramic walls.
Slip/Score:
The scratching and the gluing of the clay to attach another piece of clay, so

they attach well and won't fall off.

Throwing:
The process of throwing clay on the potter's wheel to form vessels in a more

mechanical way.

Glaze:
The liquid raw material combination of silica (the glass former), Flux (lower the
melting temperature), and Alumina (to stiffen the glaze to prevent it from running off the
piece).

Interdisciplinary Connections:

1. Students can use geometry when constructing their tar paper cut outs molders for
their coil forms. (Math)
2. Students will write an a brief story about their opposite. (Language Arts)

Artist ( + 3 images)/ Resources :

Keri Straka
Keris part of her artist statement: My work explores relationships of nesting,
growth, protection, and intimacy. The amplification of organic textures and figurative
shapes suggest elements of the natural world, while alluding to sensual and corporeal
experiences of the human body. She uses contracting textures and brings some pieces
together with color. THis push and pull of contrast is very interesting.

Cushioned #1, 5x4 inches, 2007

Cushioned #2, 5x4 inches, 2007

Platelet #2, 5x4 inches, 2007

Nature Amplified, 5x4 inches, 2007

Infectious Embellishment #2,

62 x 12 x 12

Christine Nofchissey McHorse

In 1996 McHorse decided to leave utility and tradition behind and focus on pot and
sculpture combined. She intentionally makes her pieces black to create a dark/light effect.
She throws vessels then adds sculpture in unique ways to her vessel to create a more
sculptural aesthetic. Her work is a revelation and represents a new direction in Native
American ceramics.

Untitled (Horns)
2009

Multiplicity 2010

Rolled Rose 2010

Peter Voulkos
(19242002) Voulkos was an
American
artist of
Greek
descent. He was known for
his
Abstract Expressionist
, ceramic sculptures. He combined the traditional and the more
modern forms in ceramics at the time. He created his vessels in a more expressionistic way,
yet they did not provide function.


Amaya, 1999

Wedge, 2000

William Daley
William Daley is 90 years old and creates large vessel like forms. His work is more
architectural and structured. He likes to leave his ceramic pieces bare to show off his crisp
edges and form.
William Daley was born in Hastings-on-Hudson New York on March 7th, 1925. His
father, a house painter and avid lover of poetry and the arts, fostered William's creative
appetite. After surviving prison camp during World War II, Daley went on to attend The
Massachusetts College of Art in Boston where, under the G.I. Bill, he received his Bachelors
Degree in 1950. After graduation, William married his college classmate, Catherine Stennes.
They relocated to New York where Daley completed his Graduate Degree from Columbia
University Teachers College in 1952. -blurb from WillamDaleyCeramics.com

Magister Inn 1993

Animate Cistern 2011

Lesson procedure:
Fri. Day 1:

Goodmorning everyone! Today we are starting our next big project using

clay. Opposites will be our big idea for this project. We are going to start out by discussing
opposite relationships (starts powerpoint) I am going to play this short documentary
showing how animals form odd relationships. (play video) In your table groups, discuss
how did the animals get along in the video? (Call on tables)
Activity:
Now,
Recall a friend or family that is your opposite. Write a brief personal
story of a time you met someone who was very different from yourself, but yet you
enjoyed being around the person. Who wants to share their story?(call on raised hands)
We can now talk about artist Keri Straka and how she uses opposites in her pieces.
Keri focuses on relationships within her forms how they can and grow from each other.
(ask questions to students about comparing two of her works) What differences do the two
pieces have to come together as a whole? What similarities help their relationships tie

together? How do these forms create harmony? (call on students and pick on students who
have not talked.) (explain how the color ties the pieces together and how the textures are
opposing between smooth and rough.)
Now lets discuss about yin-yang! What is Yin-Yang ?(call on students) Yes, Yin-Yang
are opposites in the chinese astrology.
The universe is both constant and cyclical according
to the Yin-Yang Philosophy. One force dominates and then it is replaced by the opposing
force. This activity continues constantly and repeats itself over time in a the form of a cycle.
Yin and yang are opposite in nature, but they are part of nature, they rely on each other,
and they can't exist without each other. The balance of yin and yang is important. If yin is
stronger, yang will be weaker, and vice versa. Yin and yang can have aspects of each other,
hinting the white dot in the Yin and the black dark apart of Yang. It is believed that yinyang
exists in everything. Yin characterizes the feminine or negative nature of things and Yang
stands for the masculine or positive side.
We will now talk about how Christine McHorse shows yin-yang in her pieces. She is
a native american artist who focuses on the vessel being a sculpture as well. (ask students
and call on raised hands with answers):
What are the Yin-Yang Relationships in these
Pieces? How did the Artist Bring together the opposites in the pieces? (The vase lip and foot
(top and bottom) are opposite and similar in style. The other piece shows cups on the side
and top of vessel on opposite sides, which lend towards each other)
There are two different ways of Forming clay. (explain the difference of
handbuilding and wheel throwing.)
Hand Building-Organic (hand touched)
-Type of Handbuilding (Coil Building): Building vessels by slipping and scoring coils, to
build up your walls.

 Wheel Throwing- Mechanical (precise)

What are examples of organic things?
What are examples of mechanical things? (Have students converse and then pick students
to share) Now list a few things which are more organic in nature and mechanical in form.
(revel list on powerpoint.)
The next artist I am going to talk about is Peter Voulkos (19242002). Voulkos was
an
American
artist of
Greek
descent. He was known for his
Abstract Expressionist
, ceramic
sculptures. He combined the traditional and the more modern forms in ceramics at the
time. He created his vessels in a more expressionistic way, yet they did not provide
function. Notice how he used abstraction, experimentation, and texture in his pieces. HIs
pieces were large in scale.
Our last artist we will talk about today is William Daley. He is 90 years old and he
creates large vessel like forms. His work is more architectural and structured. He likes to
leave his ceramic pieces bare to show off his crisp edges and form. Now, Im going to show
you two pictures of Peter Voulkos and William Daleys work. Which one is more organic in
form? Which one is more mechanic in form? Raise your hand if you this the Peter Voulkos is
organic! (Let students guess the style of work) Yes you were correct! Peter Voulkos uses
more organic forms and textures, while William Daley uses more mechanical, geometric
forms and textures.
For your project, you will create a hand-built coil vessel and a wheel thrown vessel
and combine them bringing the two opposite vessels (Organic v.s Mechanical) together.
You will connect Yin-Yang opposites by using opposing contrasts within your artworks

through a variety of surface manipulation. (TEXTURE additive/subtractive)

Essential Questions:

What will you make for organic and mechanical aspects of your piece?
(patterns, designs, texture, ect.)

How can you bring these opposite vessels together?

How can you use texture to show a relationship between your vessels?
Goals:

Must build a coil form and press against cardboard to create unique form.
(Use cardboard pattern formers.)

Must throw on the wheel creating another vessel.

Coil form has to be within 8 inches tall and wide.

Use at least 2 opposing textures (each of mechanical and organic) (additive

and/or subtractive) for creating one organic and one mechanical form and
find a way to bring them together.
(20 min)
Start Sketching ideas and converse at your tables! Students will develop ideas for
their form of their coil pot. (20min)
Time to clean up! Next Tuesday we are going to start building our cardboard
patterns! (5 min.)
(20th) Tues. Day 2:
Hello everyone, today you will start on your cardboard patterns for
your opposite vessel project. We will take our ideas from last class and construct the forms
out of cardboard. We will then coil the clay into these forms to help form our coil vessels
next time in class. Keep in mind you must have an at least 2 organic and mechanical
textures for your pieces (total of 4).
Remember, you will express opposites in your ideas
through texture and form. Make sure you create an interesting coil form which ties your
wheel thrown piece together.
Does anyone have any questions about getting started on this
project? I have a quick demo on constructing the cardboard pattern, everyone gather
around. (5 min.)

(I will show cardboard pattern making demo) You will construct the unique walls of
your coil pot first on your cardboard pattern. To make curves you apply pressure slightly to
create a facet to bend the cardboard in a more circular form. You can also cut straight to
create more angled forms. After you are done cutting out the sides, you trace the bottom of
your unique form base, and then cut out and tape/hot glue the pieces together.
Make sure
everyone is careful while using exacto knifes to cut cardboard patterns!
I will walk around
the room if you need any help, raise your hand and I will come to you. (5 min)
Students will work on their opposite vessel projects by constructing their cardboard
patterns. Work Time (30 min.)
Everyone, it is now time to clean up! Next class time is a workday and hopefully we
can finish the cutouts so we can get started on coil building. We will have a coil building
demo the beginning of next class(5 min.)
Thurs. Day 3:
Welcome everyone, today is a workday. I will show any construction on
cardboard demos during work time. You are welcome to watch or keep working on your
opposite vessel project. I will also demo coil building today for students to watch how to
coil build their handbuilt forms. This is the day to really go at it and get your 3/D project in
a good shape. (3 min.)
(Students will have rest of class time to work on their opposite vessels projects and
view handbuilding demo) ( I will demo (review) coil building/ slip-scoring/ attachment,
and adding on, forming to the vessel.) (5 min. demo) (32 min. work time)
Time to clean up! tomorrow we are going to have another workday and demo day!
(5 min.)

(26th) Mon. Day 4 (monday shorter class period):

Goodmorning everyone, today is a

going to be a demo and work day. I will start out by showing a demo on wheel throwing.
This is our next step for our opposite vessel project! I will go through the steps of centering
clay, pulling the floor, pulling the walls, and then forming the cylinder into an interesting
form. After I am done demoing, then we can have a workday on your coil pots. I will show
any demos on coil building today to refresh your memory from last Thursday. You are
welcome to watch or keep working on your opposite vessel project. Today will be a great
workday! Get ready to work! (2 min.)
(I will give a throwing demo on the wheel for all students and answer questions
about the wheel.) (15 min.)
(Students will have rest of class time to work on coling their handbuilt vessel for
their opposite vessel projects and ask questions) (10 min.)
Let's start cleaning up! We are going to have another workday with coil building,
and then we will start one group wheel throwing next class. We are one step closer to
finishing the project! (3 min.)
Wed. Day 5:
Hello, today is a workday, one group (half the class) will try throwing on the
wheel while the other group is going to hand build their coil pots. I will walk around to help
whoever needs help on coil building or on the wheel . I will show any demos on coil or
throwing during work time if requested. Does anyone have any questions about the
project? (2 min.)
Students will work on their coil pots and wheel thrown vessels during class time.
(38 min.)

It is clean up time! We will continue groups on wheel throwing and groups in

handbuilding on Friday! We are going to have another workday on coil building and
throwing, get excited! (5 min.)
Fri. Day 6:
Welcome everyone, today is going to be a workday in handbuilding and wheel
throwing. Everyone should be almost halfway done forming and building their coil pot for
their project. Does anyone have any questions about the project? On Tuesday, I will have a
texture demo and you can experiment with different types of textures.(5 min.)
(Students will have rest of class time to work on their opposite vessel projects on
coil and wheel throwing) (35 min.)
Time to clean up! We are going to have another workday next class! We will finish
up our coil pots and start adding textures to our pieces. Have a nice day!
(5 min.)
(3rd) Tues. Day 7:
Bonjour everyone, today is a workday for your opposite vessel project.
I will demo some textures today for our coil and wheel thrown pots. Remind students of
thinking in creative ways to bring the two vessels together. (ex. cutting them up, piecing
them different ways, color, texture, movement, ect.) (2 min.)
I will show the demo on different textures to students! (5min.)
(Students will have rest of class time to work on their opposite vessel projects and
ask for help with coil/ hand building, or texture. ) (35 min.)
Time to clean up! Next Monday will be our in progress critique individually with me
to see how to finish our pieces. Let's get a lot done on thursday, so our critique will be
beneficial for finishing up our projects. Have a fantastic rest of your day! (5 min)

Thurs. Day 8:
Hello everyone! Reminder! Monday will be our in progress critique
individually with me to see how to finish our pieces. Let's get a lot done on today, so our
critique will help finish your piece. Today is a workday, let's try to start bringing the two
pieces of hand built and wheel thrown vessels together! Lets also start on texture if you
haven't yet, and if you have started texture, keep going! (2 min)
(Students will have rest of class time to finish their opposite vessel projects and ask
questions) ( I will walk around the room and help students) (38 min.)
It is time to clean up! Your critique is this Monday! You will have two days to finish
up next week on Wednesday and Friday! Projects are due for drying on next Friday after
class. Have a great rest of your day! (5 min.)
(9th) Mon. (shorter) Day 9:
Welcome everyone! Today is going to be an exciting day to
try to finish our projects. I will hold individual critiques today during class time. Our final
greenware opposite projects are due this coming Friday! Does anyone have any questions
before we start? (2 min.)
Work time for students! I will call students to have a 3 min. critique with me and I
will help them find ideas to finish their project. (23 min.)
Time to clean up and head out! Tomorrow is our last full work day! Have a fun rest
of your day! (5 min.)
Wed. Day 10:
Hello everyone! Today is our last full workday, our projects are due this
Friday for bisque! We will finish glazing our pieces all next week. (3min.)
You have all class time today and most of class Friday for finishing our clay opposite
vessel projects! Students will have work time! (38 min.)

It is clean up time! Next week we will have a glazing demo to finish our pieces. Have
a fabulous day! (5 min.)
(13th Due for Bisque) Fri. Day 11:
Hello everyone! Today is our last workday, our
projects are due today at the end of class for bisque! We will finish glazing our pieces all
next week. (3min.)
You will have the whole class period for finishing our clay opposite vessel projects!
Students will have work time! (38 min.)
Time to clean up! Next week we will have a glazing demo to finish our pieces. Start
thinking about what colors you want to glaze your pieces over the weekend! Have a
fabulous day! (5 min.)
(17th) Tues. Day 12:
Good Morning! Today we will start glazing our pieces! Our final
projects are due this Thursday for the final glaze firing! I will start off by showing the
glazing demo. (3min.)
You must do at least two coats of glaze to get the proper coverage for your projects. I
will show students great glazing techniques and how to glaze their pieces. (demo) (5 min.)
You have all the time today and on Thursday to finish glazing your pieces! Students
will have work time! (37 min.)
Clean up time, our last glazing time will be next time. We will finish our pieces on
Thursday. Have a wonderful rest of your day! (5 min.)

(19th) Final Due for Glaze firing! Thurs. Day 13:

Goodmorning! Today is our last
workday, our projects are due today at the end of class for the glaze firing! We will finish
glazing our pieces today and put them on the cart. (2min.)
You have all class time of period today for finishing our clay opposite vessel
projects! Students will have work time to finish glazing their vessels! (38 min.)
Time to put your finished projects on the glaze firing cart and clean up. Next week
our projects will come out of the kiln and you will fill out the rubric for a self evaluation and
I will then grade your opposite vessel clay project as well! (This is Mr. Wolfs method of
grading and I would like to try it and see how I like it) Have an awesome rest of your day!
(5 min.)

Assessment/Evaluation (your assessment must match your objectives!)

Following page:
Rubric
Class Example

Miss Loring
Student name: ____________________ Period:___________________
Teacher Comments:

Total score: _______/

50
________

Criteria

Student

Teacher

Craftsmanship:
Does my finish product show creativity and does
it seem neatly done?
Form:
Did I use an interesting form for my coil pot to help my two
vessels come together?

Texture:
Did I use mechanical and organic textures effectively to
bring the two vessel together?
Unity:
Did I unite my two vessels effectively to create one vessel?
Productivity:
Did I use the time to create a finished looking piece?

5 points=Excellent , 4 points=Very Good, 3 points=Good, 2 Points=Needs Work, 1 point=

Needs a lot of work, 0 points= incomplete

Final Class Example:

Process:
Build Coil pot

Build Wheel Thrown Pot

Bring them together...TADA! :D