Clay Class I & II
Ms. Birkholz
Purpose:
This class is to:
1) help you learn about clay techniques, equipment, and terms
2) help you explore and develop clay-working skills
3) enable you to express yourself creatively (school appropriate)
4) help you “read” and compose are using the elements and principles
Lessons/Projects for Clay I:
1) Using hand building techniques to create several different projects
Animal Pinch Bowl
Student Choice Project
2) Class presentations about the composition and quality of your projects (normally
one presentation near the end of each quarter)
3) Videos and reading (with questions) about various art topics including elements,
principles, skills and art history
4) Preparing a project for display, including composing and typing an artist
statement to show with it
5) End of term tests over notes, reading and videos
Lessons/Projects for Clay II:
1) Several projects, some assigned and some student choice. Some will expand on
what you did in Clay I and some will be new.
2) Class presentations like for Clay I.
3) At least two research projects about clay artists or art styles.
Note for both DnP I & II:
Alternative paperwork assignments, including typed reports, may also be assigned to
individuals or to the entire class… Depending on how well they do (or don’t) stay on
task on their projects.
Grading:
Participation – 10 points per day if on task and constructively busy
Paperwork – usually 20 to 30 points for occasional activity sheets, etc.
Build Grade for Each Project – Up to 50 points each, doubled for Qtr Projects
Decorating/Finishing Grade – Usually 75 to 100 points at the end of each quarter
May do up to 2 essays maximum each term to substitute for projects that explode
in kiln so can’t be decorated; More than 2 explode = rebuilds. Essays will NOT be
substitutes for not getting work done because of wasting time during class (less
than 80% average for class participation).
Project Display – Up to 100 points for preparing at least one of your best projects
and an essay about it during a social event
 Display projects must be projects you did in class that you earned
at least a “C” on
Art Kit – Up to 100 points for taking care of your art tools and materials (brushes,
palettes, etc.) during the semester, added to the grade book at end of term
End of Term Tests – Usually worth between 100 – 150 points (take good notes &
save your papers)
A few more things to know about grades & grading….
Workmanship is a big part of your art project grade, so take some time to do a
nice high quality job.
Inappropriate projects = a “0” & are confiscated
If a project is found in a school trash can, it’s grade may be dropped by a letter.
Assignments with no name may have points dropped by 10% if paperwork and a
letter grade if a project. Projects with your name in the wrong place may also be
docked.
Late Work
Work not finished during class time becomes homework (even for art class).
Paperwork assignments may become a “0” after being a week late because
they could have been done outside of class
Projects may be docked by one letter grade for being turned in late
Grades for projects and project presentations are mostly based on specific criteria,
which you can use as a “checklist” when you work on projects. We will go over
grading criteria more before we start projects. Part of a grading rubric is shown
below:
A
C
F
Lines & Shapes: All lines and shapes curve
and flow smoothly into the points, creating a
rolling optical effect.
Yes
Sort-of
No
Yes
Sort-of
No
Colors & Values: 3 to 4 different colors repeat
in the same pattern through the whole design;
Line : Student tells about their experience of
trying to get all the lines to touch the points
(challenges/process)
Shape: Student correctly describes the types
of shapes in the work, using art terms.
Color : Student accurately names the warm
and cool colors in their design
Yes
Sort-of
No
Yes
Sort-of
No
Yes
Sort-of
No
Yes
Sort-of
No
Examples of “A” level projects
Character Container
Student Choice Project
Basic Art Room Rules:
Based on: Be Respectful, Be Responsible (& On Task), Be Safe
1)
Be sitting at your assigned place before the bell rings, ready for class to start.
Not in your assigned place when the bell rings = UNEXCUSED tardy
Late & no pass = UNEXCUSED tardy
2)
Work quietly and productively at your assigned seat
Quiet visiting with group members during work time is ok.
3)
Be respectful to others including their property, materials and projects.
4)
Keep the art room cleaned up.
5)
Keep language, voice, actions, and projects school appropriate.
6)
Enter and exit the art room in a safe and appropriate manner.
Make sure Ms. Birkholz dismisses you (not running off at the bell)
One pass per person per week. When you’re given permission to leave, sign
out on the sheet and get a pass before you leave.
One of the first assignments you will have is the Social Contract
Consequences for being disrespectful, irresponsible, or unsafe (or being otherwise
disruptive and/or interfering with Ms. Birkholz’s job):
May include one or more of the following:






Loosing participation points
Writing sentences or a list or an essay
Detention
Being sent to the office
Parents or guardians contacted
Other/alternative actions as deemed appropriate
If the class in general is messy, noisy, or otherwise disruptive, the whole class may
do an art report or some other large paperwork assignment.
If messing with others’ projects or “pranking” becomes a problem, a large paperwork
assignment may be assigned for that too.
Art Boxes and Tubs
The art boxes are numbered. Your table groups are numbered. Make sure to match
the box and tub numbers with your table group numbers. This is to make sure
people don’t have to waste time hunting for basic supplies. If your box runs low, ask
Ms. Birkholz to refill it.
Bring to class: (may keep these in the classroom in your drawer or bin)
Refillable click pencil (or some pre-sharpened pencils)
Eraser
(A notebook may come in handy.)
Music Playlist
Students who have ALL their assignments in for midterms, and who have at least an
“A” for their midterm grade, may request a song to be added to the music playlist
shortly after midterms.
Electronic Devices and Other Personal Items:
Keep your electronic devices (phones, iPods, etc) on your person and out of sight. If
you don’t have a pocket to keep it in then either (1) don’t bring it to class or (2) give it
to Ms. Birkholz until the end of class. Any electronics not kept on your person and
out of sight may be taken by Ms. Birkholz until the end of class (and she may turn it
in to the office). (Any item not listed above, that becomes a distraction or a nuisance,
may also be taken.)
Miscellaneous:
If you are absent, it’s your responsibility to find out what you missed and to get your
make-up work in. Check with me or with the people at your table about what you
missed.
You may chew gum politely in the art room. Do not bring candy, food items, or
drinks to class.
Paint shirts to protect your clothes are in the back of the room.
If you have a problem with the class or with something that happened during class
then come talk to me outside of class.
Copies of this syllabus are available upon request.
Questions?
General layout of classroom
Fire escape route
Tornado plan
Codes red, yellow, and green