Lesson Plan: Creating Coils
PLO’s :
• Intermediate skill building and knowledge of materials for ceramics
• Developing knowledge and use of tools and equipment for ceramics
• Developing knowledge and use of processes and techniques for ceramics
• Developing knowledge of image development and
design strategies by applying assigned strategies to
personal artworks
• Developing knowledge and use of visual elements
and principles of art and design as they apply to ceramics and sculpture
Materials:
Clay
Wire
Variety of Wood tools and rubber ribs
board and plastic
Lesson Overview:
Students will learn a primary hand building technique in ceramics and will successfully build a 4-5 inch high coil pot of
even thickness and free of imperfections. They will strengthen their skills and master coil building with the material of
clay before moving onto using this hand building technique
to create more complex designs.
Goals:
-To learn how to coil build as a part of hand building
-To learn to combining pinching and coiling to create even,
consistent wall thicknesses.
-To successfully build a coil pot as a part of basic understanding of hand building procedures.
The Lesson
Introduction: STATING OBJECTIVE (Why, What, How, What?):
-State that the class will be learning to build coil pots and that it is an important, useful method of hand building in
ceramics.
-Proceed to hand out the worksheet.
-Student’s objective is to first, build a coil pot of even thickness and at determined height then proceed to design a
concept of decoration. They will then add the surface treatment they’ve decided on with the teacher. State that there
will be a class critique or showing of work.
Key Points: STATING INFORMATION (Important things to remember):
-They must sketch their pot both plain and decorated in their sketchbooks along with a statement of their concept
for their surface treatment and then discuss with the teacher before they start their projects.
-State their last wet day for this project (meaning last day for building)
Demonstration: STEPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL DEMO:
-Have demo set up before class starts so you can begin on time and allow time for students to set up, sketch and have
individual meeting and start their projects.
-Have students bring their handout and round the front desk where the demo will be.
-Go through steps of coil building as discussed in handout.
1)show how to wedge
2)Begin building and put emphasis on connecting coils and what I mean by pinching them together. Show that I’m
strengthening the coils and not warping the pot out or shape, or over working the clay so it collapses.
3) Do a quick decoration on the pot (one reductive, one additive as in PLO’s) to help initiate their brain storming for
ideas.
Teacher is...: Prompts that will engage students to
perform a task:
Students are...: What students will be doing after I do a
task or prompt:
1) Teacher hands out the work sheet while students
enter the class and asks them to begin looking it over
1) Students take sheet and sit at desks and begin to
read it so they have an understanding of the lesson
before I being the demo
2) Teacher asks students (when bell rings) to gather
around the demo station
2) Students gather and bring handout
3) Performs demonstration (has students circle main
desk and watch closely) - can choose to have a student
volunteer to read a step while teacher performs. Otherwise teacher can explain while doing so. Teacher
explains key points:
(-Half inch walls
-Even walls
-No finger prints, dents, bumps, or cracks. If
they appear, demo how to fix
-LIGHT pinching and continuously moving in
a circle to make a circular pot. Make a good pot and
explain expectations.)
3) Students watch. Can ask questions if they feel necessary.
*** Place emphasis on COIL building- ie rolling out
good coils.
4) Teacher explains that they are to sketch their pot in
their sketch book, first plain and second as decorated.
They must also write a statement about their concept
to have them consciously considering their work. They
MUST SHOW TEACHER THEIR DRAWINGS AND
HAVE THEM APPROVED BEFORE BEGINNING.
*** State size of pot (inches in height) they are to
achieve and minimum witch,.
5) State deadline/Last wet clay day for project so students have an understanding of their time line for the
project.
4) Students listen then return to their seats and sketch.
Sketches shouldn’t take long and they need to complete
them quickly because they are meant to initiate their
ideas and to create their own goals. They will then go
see the teacher who will go over their pot designs and
point out hard areas/provide suggestions and approve.
They are expected to start their project that day.
Approx. 10 minute sketching.
6) Students acknowledge they understand.
Closure: STUDENTS COMPLETING ACTIVITY (Share experience, critique, share work, etc):
Allow 10 minutes of clean up and show they what it means to clean up - WHITE GLOVE RULE! There should be
NO dust on desks. Explain health reason of the dust (ie it causes lungs to harden).
-Show them where to store work
**Remind them of the consequence of what happens when you don’t properly wrap your work.
-There will be a critique of the work and small gallery walk within class when the pots are complete (glazed).
Teacher Questions: QUESTIONS TO ASK DURING WORK TIME/END OF LESSON:
-What other ways can you use coils to build?
-Why would it be important that all the coils are consistent thickness?
-What other things can you build coils with?
-Do pieces built with coils always have to be a circle? What else can it be?
-Why do you think this method of hand building is so useful?
Reflections: Your thoughts after lesson. How did it go?:
Notes:
Creating
Coils
Coiling is a common and useful form of hand building in ceramics where the artist uses long coils of clay (approximately the
thickness of one’s thumb) to create a form. We will be learning how to use coils to build by creating coil pots.
Draw your pot into your sketch book and show the teacher before beginning your project.
1) Retrieve your clay and wedge the material you will use to create consistency in the clay
and to rid the clay of any air bubbles. Roll out long coils that are long enough to form a
complete circumference of the pot you will be building. Do not wet your coils in any way as
it will cause them to become slippery. Be sure to cover your coils with plastic while they’re
waiting to be used so they don’t dry out.
2) Decide your bottom by rolling out a slab of clay (.5 inches thick) and cutting out the
bottom of your pot. You may use a round container to use to trace your perfect circle.
Score the circumference of the bottom and lay your first coil on top. Pull down the sides
of the coil with your fingers, down into the bottom slab to merge the material together.
Be sure to COMPRESS the clay particles to create a strong joining of the clay (but not so
much that you press a hole!).
3) Score the top of your coil and lay down your second coil. With your finger or a wood
tool, gently bring down the sides of the second coil onto the first to join them. Be sure to
have a hand supporting the opposite side you’re working on to be sure not to warp your
pot. After you’ve complete merging the circumference of the pot, support the pot with
one hand and use the other hand to work around the pot, lightly pinching the clay to
COMPRESS and thin the clay so that it is a consistent thickness (.5 inches thick).
4) Repeat score, adding coils and pinching until you achieve your desired height.
5) Be sure to finish your pot by using your hands, rubber ribs, and wet sponges to rid
the pot of imperfections such as finger prints or dents. Make sure the pot is even and
smooth. Make sure you consider your rim by making it even or creating a lip. Consider
the bottom of your pot by creating a concave foot and/or cleaning off the sides by running
a needle tool around the circumference.
6) Decorating your pot: Use your creativity and imagination to create a powerful concept
for a design on your pot. You made use reductive or additive methods to build, extend or
reduce your pot in any way. You can decide on creative methods for adding texture by using your hands, tools, or by finding interesting things to press into the clay such as fabric,
items fallen from nature, or stamps. This is your time to explore and discover on your
own!
Be sure to write down your concept into your sketch book so you can share and explain it to
the class.