TAMALPAIS UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
Larkspur, California

Course of Study

CERAMICS 5-6

 I. INTRODUCTION

Herbert Read, American art educator and writer/philosopher, said about ceramics, “It is, at once the simplest and most difficult of the arts.”  It is also the messiest and most engaging.

Ceramics 5-6 are elective one-semester courses (a two semester sequence)  offered at all of the district’s schools as part of a 3 year sequential program in Ceramics, beginning with Art Explorations followed by Ceramics 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6.  Its purpose is to build on a foundation in ceramics and to focus students to apply their foundation skills and experience, and develop their mastery and personal style in, two and three -dimensional visual arts.

This course encourages and engenders continued development of the art student’s education through both applied and conceptual aspects of ceramic art. Ceramics 5-6 continues building towards  students’ attainment of the  eight goals for Visual Arts Education,  as described in the California Visual and Performing Arts Framework  (1996). 

Students will encounter instruction in the following areas: art history (especially as it relates to ceramic art) contemporary ceramics, terminology and technology, three dimensional design, and techniques for the building and finishing of ceramic forms.

This course addresses the following Student Learning Outcomes:

$		Outcome #1: Communicate articulately, effectively and persuasively when speaking and  writing.
$		Outcome #11: Appreciate, interpret, experience, create and/or perform artistic work..
$	          Outcome #13:  Participate in community social, civis or cultural service.

This course addresses the following Goals for Visual Arts Education (California State Visual and Performing Arts Framework):

Artistic Perception Component

Goal 1: Students use their sense to perceive works of art, objects in nature, events, and the environment.

Goal 2: Students identify visual structures and functions of art, using the language of the visual arts.

Creative Expression Component

Goal 3: Students develop knowledge of and artistic skills in a variety of visual arts media and technical processes.

Goal 4: Students create original artworkds based on personal experiences or responses.

Goal 5: Students develop skills in the visual arts and appreciation for using the visual arts in lifelong learning.

Historical and Cultural Context Component

Goal 6: Students explore the role of the visual arts in culture and human history.

Goal 7: Students investigate major themes in historical and contemporary periods and styles of the visual arts throughout the world.

Aesthetic Valuing Component

Goal 8: Students derive meaning from artworks through analysis, interpretation, and judgment.

II. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES 

Ceramics 5-6 has the following course goals:

Students will demonstrate the mastery of understanding and analyzing three dimensional art in a variety of historical and cultural contexts by using artistic perception and aesthetic valuing. With  technical mastery of the medium of clay, students will explore their personal style of creative expression. Students will demonstrate an awareness and understanding of how their artwork has connections, applications and relationships.

#1-3 below constitute the course exit outcomes.  All students need to meet these three and obtain teacher validation of completion (see attached Exit Outcomes Validation Form).

Students will:

1. Demonstrate technical mastery in completing complex forms using the following techniques: pinch, coil, slab, hump mold, drop mold, trimmed wheel, press mold,  slip casting, Increasing complexity can include combining multiple forms, increasing the scale of work to over 12” tall or 12” wide. Trimmed wheel forms include bowls, plates, bottle shapes, cups, a tea pot, a pedestal bowl, a two part large vase, three types of lidded pots, thrown and altered forms. (Visual Arts Goals 2, 3)

Make a two piece mold and complete a series of at least two pieces using castings from the mold.
(Visual Arts Goals 3,4)

2. Complete a culminating series of pieces (at least 3) which represents your mastery of at least two techniques with your personal expression and style. (Visual Arts Goals 3, 4)

3. Express your personal style using at least three finishing techniques: impressing, carving,
sgraffito, slip trailing, slip inlay, slip feathering, pierced decoration, underglazes, overglazes, majolica glaze decoration, high or medium fire glazes, pulled handles, knobs, spouts. (Visual Arts Goals 1, 3, 4, 8)

4. Research contemporary ceramics sources (online websites, magazines, art books) and find an innovative new technique of surface decoration or forming techniques in ceramics. Document the procedure and try it yourself. Present your results to the class. (Visual Arts Goals 1, 2, 3, 7)

6. Load and fire kilns. Help to maintain studio materials, tools, and equipment. (Visual Arts Goals 3, 5)

7. Follow established studio procedures.  Research, test and mix glaze formulas. (Visual Arts Goals 3, 5)

8. Analyze historical and contemporary ceramic pieces by applying the considerations of their three-dimensional design: line, form/volume, texture, movement, balance, unity, and negative/positive space in an oral presentation with visual display (poster or photographs.).  Create wheel-thrown and hand-built objects from clay embodying these analysis. Class critique of each other’s work  using these elements and principles and their historical and cultural context.  (Visual Arts Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) 

9. Gain an understanding of ceramics as a profession by organizing and exhibiting in a student art show.  (Visual Arts Goal 5)

III. ASSESSMENT

	A. Student Assessment

Student assessment in this course will be based on the following:

$		Prompt and regular class attendance.
$		Participation in creative activities and verbal critiques.
$		Completion of assignments as assessed by the instructor.
$		Respectful use of the studio environment as assessed by the instructor. 

Students will be given the grading criteria and course expectations, preferably in writing, 
at the beginning of the course. 

	B. Course Assessment 

Course assessment will be done through direct observation by teachers and administrators and 
responses to student and staff surveys.	

IV. METHODS AND MATERIALS

	A. Methods

The specific format for this course will vary in order to utilize the unique talents of teachers and the community to respond to the diverse range of students who elect the course. However, each class will provide the following:

$		Direct experiences involving the use of clay and related ceramic materials.
$		Lecture, demonstrations, and critiques by the instructor.
$		Visual resources such as video tapes, slides, reading, and demonstrations.
$		Opportunities for recognition through participation in class, school, and community exhibitions.

	B. Materials

	This is a hands-on course. Students will work with clay and related materials. There is no textbook, but students will have access to a variety of reference materials.

C. Technology 

Students may use presentation software, internet research, or other technologies as 
appropriate in this course.

V. GENERAL INFORMATION

	A. Prerequisites

Ceramics 5-6  is a 10 credit, two semester sequence open to all students who have  the prerequisites: Art Exploration and Ceramics 1-4.

	B. Requirements Met

This course may be used in partial fulfillment of the 10 credit Fine Arts graduation requirement, or towards elective credit.

This course is accepted towards the “f” requirement for UC admissions. It is also accepted in partial fulfillment of  the CSU one year Fine Arts requirement.  

Revised: 10/3/94
Revised:   7/26/99
Revised:  9/02