Linda Fletcher on sat 17 mar 01
I taught at a community art center for 15 years. Most of the children's =
classes
were in the 1st to 4th grade range. If I had more than 8 students, I =
found I=20
REALLY needed an assistant ! I loved teaching this age but many of the
children need one-on-one assistance.
Some of the kids will have there own inspiration, but sadly, even at =
this age,
many of them are afraid to do something "wrong", so they want to be =
shown
"exactly" what to do and a few will want you to do it for them...DON'T !
One of the favorite projects was mugs (favorite of my current high =
school students,
but the beverage they anticipate drinking from them is different).
I would demonstrate making a slab, then wrapping it around a cylinder
( creamer containers , cans,etc with plastic wrapped around them)
then they have the fun of pressing all sorts of textural material into =
them.
Everyone loves the way our beloved clay responds to impressed materials!
Bowls made with coils inside a "real" bowl also works well.
(emulating the "puki" of the Pueblo potters )
Now they have a mug for their milk and a bowl for their mac =
n'cheese....happy children !
.... happier parents...something to show for the $$$ they paid for the =
classes !
Have fun ! I do !
Linda
mudsinger in NH
Dai Scott on sat 17 mar 01
Hi, Linda - These are both projects that we do in the beginners' clay class
at our studio---but they certainly aren't done in 15-20 minutes! Even by
adults. Am I the only one who thinks a 15-20 minute clay session for a
group of kids is not only unworkable, but also almost meaningless? I think
there should be enough time to relax, enjoy the feel of the clay, let the
imagination fly, learn a technique or two, experiment, maybe experience a
small disaster and learn how to fix it, have fun, etc., etc., and even clean
up at the end. It's all part of "doing clay".
Dai in Kelowna, BC
potterybydai@home.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Linda Fletcher"
To:
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2001 9:16 PM
Subject: Kids One Day Affairs
I taught at a community art center for 15 years. Most of the children's
classes
were in the 1st to 4th grade range. If I had more than 8 students, I found I
REALLY needed an assistant ! I loved teaching this age but many of the
children need one-on-one assistance.
Some of the kids will have there own inspiration, but sadly, even at this
age,
many of them are afraid to do something "wrong", so they want to be shown
"exactly" what to do and a few will want you to do it for them...DON'T !
One of the favorite projects was mugs (favorite of my current high school
students,
but the beverage they anticipate drinking from them is different).
I would demonstrate making a slab, then wrapping it around a cylinder
( creamer containers , cans,etc with plastic wrapped around them)
then they have the fun of pressing all sorts of textural material into them.
Everyone loves the way our beloved clay responds to impressed materials!
Bowls made with coils inside a "real" bowl also works well.
(emulating the "puki" of the Pueblo potters )
Now they have a mug for their milk and a bowl for their mac
n'cheese....happy children !
.... happier parents...something to show for the $$$ they paid for the
classes !
Have fun ! I do !
Linda
mudsinger in NH
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Andie Carpenter on sat 17 mar 01
I'm the original asker of the one-day-affairs question, and I want to thank
everyone that responded. I also want to respond to the several people who suggested
I should come up with some choice words for anyone who thought I could work with
only 15-20 minutes. I have to disagree. I live in a tourist heavy area, and these
events are huge festivals where I'll have a table for the kids to wander to and
from as they wish. No, we're not going to create any earth shattering art, or even
really teach them anything substantial about clay, but 1) I have to say I love the
extra income they're paying me, as every little bit helps when you're just getting
you're studio off the ground, and 2) Maybe I can get the kids interested in
learning more, and then they'll sign up for either the summer classes I teach or
private lessons, where we can really work on some big projects (and also, go back
to number 1). I'm not trying to knock anyone's opions, but I think ANY chance to
expose kids to ANY kind of art is worthwhile. You never know what they'll remember.
: ) Andie
Dai Scott on sat 17 mar 01
Andie - I apologize for over-reacting about the 15-20 minute thing. I
didn't realize the kids were free to come and go as they pleased---in which
case, they wouldn't be whisked off to the next craft on the dot of 20
minutes. That's an entirely different scenario! Obviously, if they were in
the midst of doing something totally absorbing with the clay, they'd be free
to stay and finish it. Go for it, girl! P.S. I particularly like reason
#1 :-)
I've emailed some suggestions for not-too-long projects to some clayarters
who have contacted me off-line. I'll copy&paste what I sent them and send
it to you---too long to send on-list! Hope you can use some of them.
Dai in Kelowna, BC
potterybydai@home.com
Pam on sun 18 mar 01
Andie, I second your sentiments about limited time. I've worked a few open
house functions doing simple printmaking techniques. Kids could just stop
at the tables and do simple block prints and stamps monotypes, etc.. (The
favorite activity was getting their hands on the brayers and rolling out the
ink.) One great aspect is when the parents who are hanging back with a
gleam in their eyes can be cajoled to step up and experiment, too. That
seems to be a little bit of a promise that the kids will have some support
in the artwork that they might want to do in the future. On another tack,
it is surprising to find the kids who haven't even used basic art tools
other than markers or colored pencils and to see them discover the "messier"
stuff. Yep, I agree. Use what time you have to do what you can.
Pam
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andie Carpenter"
To:
Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2001 6:39 PM
Subject: Kids One Day Affairs
> I'm the original asker of the one-day-affairs question, and I want to
thank
> everyone that responded. I also want to respond to the several people who
suggested
> I should come up with some choice words for anyone who thought I could
work with
> only 15-20 minutes. I have to disagree. I live in a tourist heavy area,
and these
> events are huge festivals where I'll have a table for the kids to wander
to and
> from as they wish. No, we're not going to create any earth shattering art,
or even
> really teach them anything substantial about clay, but 1) I have to say I
love the
> extra income they're paying me, as every little bit helps when you're just
getting
> you're studio off the ground, and 2) Maybe I can get the kids interested
in
> learning more, and then they'll sign up for either the summer classes I
teach or
> private lessons, where we can really work on some big projects (and also,
go back
> to number 1). I'm not trying to knock anyone's opions, but I think ANY
chance to
> expose kids to ANY kind of art is worthwhile. You never know what they'll
remember.
>
> : ) Andie
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Linda Fletcher on sun 18 mar 01
Guess I missed the fact that the sessions would only be 20 minutes....
that is insane. I complain because I only have 43 minute classes for my
high school students !=20
When I taught at the art center the classes were 1 hr for 5 to 7 yr olds =
and
1 1/2 hr. for older kids. One hour was perfect, one and half posed =
problems
with kids with shorter attention span.
But there is always plastic...do one step then wrap well for next =
session.
Of course, if you will only see those students one time for that short a =
period...
how frustrating !!! The only thing I can think that might work is small =
slab plates
and let them have fun with impressing textures into those.
Can it be that Spring is this week ? Someone told me you're supposed to
plant your peas on St. Paddie's day. Hard to do when there is still two =
feet
of snow over my garden !
Hoping for a good dose of springtime in Charlotte !
Linda
mudsinger in NH
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