kathleen gordon on fri 19 jan 07
hello all and happy new year... I have a question for teachers of kids
ceramics.This session i am planning to do a class or two on making tea
pots....I wanted to give the kids some examples of tea pots and then a
tip list of things they should consider before they make the
plunge....the class age range is 7 -12 but most of the kids are 9
years old... I wanted them to have a successful experience as making
tea pots can be daunting for even the best potters... anyone have some
good kid websites where i could find pictures of tea pots made by kids
and tips on what they should consider while they are making their
designs...(like put the spout towards the bottom of the pot.. the top
should be made so it won't fall out when you pour..ect)
.. i am always so grateful for the great depth of knowlege on clayart,
and for folks who take the time to write... thank you one and all
kathleen gordon
Dorie Mickelson on sat 20 jan 07
Hi Kathleen, regarding kids and teapots, I have been teaching 9-12 year old
kids how to throw on the wheel for about a year now so can only speak from
that experience, but I have had a number of kids make teapots (at their
specific request to be shown how to do so) and I'm always impressed with how
well they do!
In my experience, kids under the age of nine do best on the hand building
front -- and a coiled built teapot is usually pretty manageable for 7-8 year
olds -- while the 9-12 year olds can usually handle throwing the teapot body
on the wheel once they've gotten some basic wheel throwing experience. I do
have them do a coiled handle though (not a pulled one) and usually have them
hand build the lid and spout with either coiling or slab techniques --
though I have also taught kids how to throw both lids and spouts on the
wheel -- and they actually seem to be able to manage the lid pretty well if
you show them how to throw it right on the wheel head from the knob on down
(instead of off the hump). The spout is the hardest for them to throw on
the wheel so I usually have to help them with that -- and they usually need
some help cutting and attaching the spout too...
For the most part, I just try to simplify things a bit for kids -- working
small helps -- for throwing on the wheel, I usually have them start with a
ball of clay that fits comfortably in their hands (about the size of an
orange). Also, when teaching kids how to make teapots, I do not try to
address all of the finer points regarding lids and spouts that I might in an
adult (or more advanced) class -- just my own approach so far, don't know
how others handle it. And I leave it up to the kids if they even want to
make a teapot or not -- I figure if they are having fun and doing what they
want to do, they will learn more in the process...and I think for some kids,
trying to make a wheel thrown teapot might be too frustrating...so I give
them options on other things they can make. Usually I end up with a few
kids in each class who want to make teapots while the rest are happy to make
bowls, cups, plates, vases, etc.
Hope that helps!
Best,
Dorie Mickelson in Ann Arbor, Michigan
www.FreeSpiritCreations.com
***********************
From: kathleen gordon
Subject: kids and tea pots
to do a class or two on making tea pots....I wanted to give the kids some
examples of tea pots and then a tip list of things they should consider
before they make the plunge....the class age range is 7 -12 but most of the
kids are 9 years old... I wanted them to have a successful experience as
making tea pots can be daunting for even the best potters... anyone have
some good kid websites where i could find pictures of tea pots made by kids
and tips on what they should consider while they are making their
designs...>
Barbara Francis on sat 20 jan 07
Kathleen, there is a teapot project in the "Ceramics for Kids" book. They use 2 plastic bowls as molds for the body of the teapot. You can also teach them to use two pinch pots put together to form the body of the pot. I love the Ceramics for Kids book. If you don't have it I recommend it.
Barb
kathleen gordon wrote:
hello all and happy new year... I have a question for teachers of kids
ceramics.This session i am planning to do a class or two on making tea
pots....I wanted to give the kids some examples of tea pots and then a
tip list of things they should consider before they make the
plunge....the class age range is 7 -12 but most of the kids are 9
years old... I wanted them to have a successful experience as making
tea pots can be daunting for even the best potters... anyone have some
good kid websites where i could find pictures of tea pots made by kids
and tips on what they should consider while they are making their
designs...(like put the spout towards the bottom of the pot.. the top
should be made so it won't fall out when you pour..ect)
.. i am always so grateful for the great depth of knowlege on clayart,
and for folks who take the time to write... thank you one and all
kathleen gordon
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sacredclay on sat 20 jan 07
Kathleen, Having taught kids class for years, I would suggest that you
tell them to make small teapots, enough for one cuppa. It help scales
down the project to their level. using a cardboard rolls such as Morton
salt might even help them build a better piece. If you have an
extruder, that would be a boon to making the spout.I don't know of
anywebsites. You might consider making minature teapots instead, like
for Pokemons or Barbie's tea parties. That gets them going.On a side
note, when clay stiffens enough to hold the shape, remove the roll
otherwise, the clay will absorbs the moisture from it, dy and crack.
Have fun! Kathryn in NC planning to do a class or two on making tea
> pots....I wanted to give the kids some examples of tea pots and then a
> tip list of things they should consider before they make the
> plunge....the class age range is 7 -12 but most of the kids are 9
> years old... I wanted them to have a successful experience as making
> tea pots can be daunting for even the best potters... anyone have
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