IN-18 (Grades K-12)
Play, Clay, and Fire Version 2.0: Primitive Pit-Firing Techniques for Any Classroom
Alex Mandli, Racine Unified School District
muddauber@alexmandli.com                          
  

This workshop is not just for art teachers. From regular education teachers in schools without an art specialist or a kiln, to high school art teachers who would like to involve their students in every aspect of the pottery making and pit-firing process, there will be much for you to learn. We will use play as the method of learning and discovery. Through the pit-firing process the aim will be to motivate your students to research, read and write about ancient cultures and their pottery. The students will observe, record and evaluate their journey through this process.

Workshop participants will make, decorate and fire their own pottery. We will study the pottery of other cultures through slides, videos and Internet research. One week is not enough time to do all this, so, there will be some enjoyable homework! But, you will have fun.

Objectives:

• Teach basic ceramic pottery construction and decorating techniques.

• Understand the pit-firing process.

• Learn about other cultures that fired their pottery in a similar manor.

• Teach participants to infuse previous listed objectives into their content area.

Note: Mr. Mandli has displayed his pottery at the Smithsonian Craft Show, the nation’s most prestigious exhibition of contemporary craft.