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Wild and Wacky Ceramic Shoes
Submitted by: Marsha G., H.S. Visual Arts The First Academy, Orlando FL.
Lesson Summary by: Linda Woods and Judy Decker
UNIT: Ceramic Sculpture
Lesson: Ceramic shoes - wild and wacky
Grade Level: Middle school through High school
See Justin Kramer students' Sculptural Shoes
Sculptural Shoes Lesson idea and
Rubric by Sara Gant
Objectives: Students will...
Learn about the history of shoes and shoes from various cultures.
Create a shoe using slab and coil techniques.
Become familiar with basic additive and subtractive sculpting methods while adding imaginative features to their shoe.
Exhibit craftsmanship in using clay.
Learn glazing techniques by finishing their shoe with underglazes and/or glazes.
Vocabulary:
Sculpture, Slab, Coil, Additive, Subtractive, Glazing, Slip and score
Motivation: Teacher will...
Show examples of shoes using pictures and books with unique shoes. Create PowerPoint from various sources on the web
Demonstrate each step of the project before the students start that step.
Brainstorm session - Have students complete 3 sketches of shoes and choose their favorite for the project
Materials:
Newsprint |
Underglazes |
, 
, 
Lesson Summary by Linda Woods (for sixth grade)
This lesson is based upon PowerPoint examples from research on shoes online. Following a discussion on history and funky adaptations for shoes, and unusual shoes through time and from various cultures, students will brainstorm a list of random ideas for shoes. See what comes up... shoes to cook in, shoes to go around the world in, shoes to wear in prison, shoes to wear on the ceiling, shoes for a first date or when you want to break up with someone, shoes to hold water, shoes with a mind of their own, shoes that sing, shoes that float, shoes for the depressed, shoes for a rhino, shoes to wear to a barbecue, shoes for a dog trainer, etc., etc., etc. Just random as can be, for at least 5 minutes.
Once they have something that sounds like fun to make, they will sketch their designs from the side, top, front, and back, and make a paper pattern to scale. They can use their own shoes (and some sample shoes from Goodwill) to get an idea for patterns shapes. They will use these patterns to cut out their shoes from clay. They will also decide if they are going to use mixed media with clay, or clay alone (for example, they could use feather boas, raffia, whatever they wished to add to their clay shoes.) I will require that they make a pair of shoes, so they will keep their patterns until the second one is made. We will review joining corners together with a coil reinforcement on the inside, they way to score and use slip, and finger welding. Demonstrations would be given to show various uses for coils in construction, decoration, and detail. Students will choose between using underglazes (for crisp, sharp edges, no bleeding colors) and glazes (for a softer effect.)
Linda's fun shoes:
Last time she made paradise sandals... real looking toes in the front, (looked like them, anyway), flowers and lizards made up the straps, twigs wrapped the bottom, the strip across the toe was water flowing around pebbles, the heel was a hibiscus bloom. Sadly, they broke while she was cleaning the kiln room.
Procedures:
Brainstorm on kinds of shoes - make some thumbnail sketches of ideas - select best image
Draw shoe from all sides
Make tag board patterns and cut out.
Using a rolling pin and wooden slats, roll out an even slab of clay.
Cut the sole of your shoe from this slab. (Hint: no matter what the shoe looks like, the soles will be the same basic shape) You might want to even use your own foot for scale (although clay will shrink so finished shoe will be smaller).
Form the heel of the shoe using slab, coil, or pinching methods.
Attach heel to upside down sole, then place shoe right side up. Support arch of shoe if needed with wads of newspaper.
Use additive and subtractive techniques to add the remaining details. Each shoe will require different methods. Score and slip sections together. If making two shoe s- student will want to work on both at the same time to insure equal size.
Use a sponge to smooth all rough areas before letting shoe dry. Add any desired textures and allow to dry slowly for bisque firing
After firing, glaze with underglazes and Clear Glaze
-- or glazes and fire again.
Write about meaning of shoe - Self Assessment
Self Assessment for students:
Did I brainstorm long enough to come up with a clever idea?
Did I develop my sketch with originality?
Did I make my clay pattern to scale prior to cutting my clay?
Did I use proper joining techniques?
Did I spend time on details and refining of my clay shoes?
Did I use the right amount of glaze? (Not too thick or thin)
Did I clean all of the glaze off of the bottom of my pieces prior to
firing? (or will my piece stand on Stilts in the Kiln)
What is the title of my project?
Evaluation: Design a rubric around the following - Did students....
1. Create an original design - make several thumbnail sketches?
2. Create the basic form of the shoe using slabs and coils?
3. Use both additive and subtractive methods to create interesting features on their shoe?
4. Finish shoes using underglazes and/or glazes; were they used correctly?
Submitted by Barbara Gotch
Summer Shoes
Students learned all about the history of shoes and shoes from other countries. The girls researched designer shoe wear, the history of women's shoes, etc, plus experienced working with clay and glazing. They designed a summer shoe and created it in clay. Underglazes were used.
High Heal Shoe by Margaret Hewlett (Shoe as social comment)
