Native American Art: Ceramic Lesson Plans
Scroll down to find a variety of multicultural tribal specific ceramic lesson ideas. Each lesson incorporates Native American Culture by tribe and region, elements and principles of art, cross-curricular suggestions and materials. (more to come)
Native American Art: "Mayan Ruins" Ceramic Lesson Idea
6th grade
Native American Art: "Identity Sculpture" Ceramic Lesson Idea
8th grade
Native American Art: Pueblo Pottery Lesson Plan
Title/Technique: Pueblo Pottery
This lesson uses the Smithsonian Web site for an introduction to Pueblo Pottery. After learning about the importance and meaning of the pottery symbols, students will design their own symbols for a clay wall vase.
Tribe (s): Pueblo Region: Southwest
Cross curricular connections: Lang Arts, US History
Grade(s): 1-8
Elements/Principles of art: Shape, Symbols
Materials:
clay, small water containers, clay tools
hand out with 3” square/circle
tagboard templates of various vase shapes
newspaper
Learn about Pueblo Pottery here: http://americanhistory.si.edu/ourstory/pdf/pueblo/pueblo_explore.pdf
Description:
**PHOTOGRAPHS coming soon!
This lesson uses the Smithsonian Web site for an introduction to Pueblo Pottery. After learning about the importance and meaning of the pottery symbols, students will design their own symbols for a clay wall vase.
Tribe (s): Pueblo Region: Southwest
Cross curricular connections: Lang Arts, US History
Grade(s): 1-8
Elements/Principles of art: Shape, Symbols
Materials:
clay, small water containers, clay tools
hand out with 3” square/circle
tagboard templates of various vase shapes
newspaper
Learn about Pueblo Pottery here: http://americanhistory.si.edu/ourstory/pdf/pueblo/pueblo_explore.pdf
Description:
- Explore web page site listed above.
- Brainstorm: What natural items are important to you and your family? (examples: earth, wind, fire, water, food, animals/pets, etc)
- Choose your item/element.
- Design a symbol to represent your element. It should be roughly 3 inches. When drawing, have them make sure their design touches the side of the 3” circle/square
- Do you think other’s can ‘read’ your symbol? Share with a classmate and refine as needed.
- Prepare your wall pot;
- roll a slab of clay
- choose a pot shape template and trace it twice. Cut shapes out of clay
- On one shape, make your shape from coils or thin slabs of clay.
- Attach with scratch and wet technique.
- Join two pieces of clay together around the edges, use scratch and wet technique.
- Stuff inside of pot with newspaper.
- Poke a hole on the back pot shape to hang on wall.
- Let dry flat, the back should be flat on the table, the top slightly rounded.
- Dry, fire and paint.
- Older students could make a coil vase/pot.
- If you do not have access to clay or a kiln students could use paper or paint as well. You can also make a nice wall pocket using paper plates and paint.
**PHOTOGRAPHS coming soon!
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Be aware that all text and images on the Native American Activities website are Copy Right Protected.
You must obtain written permission to reproduce or transmit any NativeAmericanActivities materials.
Teachers may print-out text and images without restriction for use in a non-internet classroom setting. the following statement should be included on each copy:
Copyright © 2013 Native American Projects & Lessons Plans. Internet URL: http://www.nativeamericanactivities.com
