CYOA: Effigy Pots

Each year the art teachers in my school district choose a different part of the world or culture as a K-12 focus. We try to get other departments involved as well for interdisciplinary connections. The efforts culminate during Cultural Heritage Week- a week of speakers, performances, and a K-12 art exhibit. This year our focus has been Native American cultures. Since I had already decided to experiment with choice based art instruction at my intermediate school, I used the "Choose Your Own Adventure" method that I tried out with 5th grade when studying fibers last spring. I came up with several open-ended ceramics projects and each student choose a direction. 

*We only get to do one clay project a year, and this was the first time I ever started the year with clay. I'm not sure if that was the best idea or not, but other than probably 15% of the projects going unfinished, it went pretty well. The students only have art for 40 minutes every other week so their projects have to be built in one day. Since new choices were introduced in following classes, not all students finished their clay (painting with tempera and varnishing) in the second class, and several never got around to it, eventually taking projects home unfinished.

Choice Menus for Native American Inspired Ceramics Projects

I'll be posting about each route, in no particular order. I'm not even going to try to set a timeline because I will not likely be able to stick to it. Two kids at home on a single parent schedule keeps me a lot busier than one kiddo! Anyway, up first are Effigy Pots.

Here is what my research has turned up:  An effigy is a representation of a specific person, especially in three dimensions. Head Pots/Head Jars are one type of effigy pot made by members of the Mississippian tribe. The pots have been found in parts of Arkansas and Missouri. The pot or jar takes the form of a head, usually representing someone who was dead. The eyes are most often closed and the teeth often show as if the tissue is gone. The function of the pots is unclear- it's possible they were "trophies" to represent enemies or that they were a representation of someone who was important or respected (Encyclopedia of Arkansas). I've also found effigy pots that represent animals instead of people.

Other sources

Nelson-Atkins Museum

Mississippian Technology: Containers

The most common technique students used to make their effigies was starting with a pinch pot, making impressions in the clay with their thumbs for eye sockets, and adding on other facial features. The biggest issue came from students building the pots in their hands and not remembering to check the angle of the face when the pot was sitting.

There were many different interpretations of the assignment. Some students made holes for the eyes and some added them on. Some students experimented with turning their pinch pots upside down to make a hollow head form.

A few students took the animal effigy route. Are cats as popular with your students as they are with mine? One student asked to make an effigy mask instead of a pot and we found that toothpicks worked well for whiskers where clay would have broken.

Clay Roundup

I like to save clay for the last project of the year- we only do it once a year so students are excited and engaged, despite the approaching end of the school year. This year, however, clay projects were completed closer to spring break since I didn't know if baby #2 would let me finish the school year. (He was actually 3 days late but I ended up taking off a week early for my sanity.) I want to just post a quick rundown of each of my K-3rd grade clay lessons. 

*Click on the links next to the grade level headings to see a longer post with more information from a previous year.

3rd grade- The Pot That Juan Built

Students learn about Juan Quezada through this awesome book then make slab and coil pots. As long as they learn and use the techniques, they can make whatever they want. This year I didn't limit any color choices. The main body of the air dry clay projects were painted with tempera cakes and I gave black liquid tempera for details.

 2nd grade- Transportation

Last year I planned "transportation" as the theme for the 2nd grade lesson because it ties into their social studies curriculum. The students really enjoyed it so we tried it again this year. I demonstrated using pinch pots, coils, and attachments to make a few basic forms and the students made anything fitting the theme.

Wish I had noticed I messed up the photo. I loved the rider on this horse.

 1st Grade- Pinch Pot Creatures

One year the students made pinch pot turtles, then I added ladybugs, then I figured as long as they showed they learned how to make a pinch pot and attach things, the subject didn't really matter. Most students stuck to the animals I demonstrated- turtle, ladybug, fish- but some branched out and tried different ideas. There was even a beaver but I didn't get a photo of it. I know that the first time I saw the turtle idea, I was on Deep Space Sparkle but I've seen the other creatures too many different places to site an inspiration source.

Giraffe!

 Kindergarten- Knee Bowls, Choice, Adapted Ball Bowl

Most of my Kindergarten students made knee bowls- a slab of clay formed into a bowl by pressing over their covered knee. The students used tools to make designs and/or textures in the surface then painted in the next class period. This year I had several students who had made knee bowls with me in PreK and already knew the process and skills. Some of the students chose to try out the "adapted" ball bowl project I picked up at a workshop, and some made whatever they chose out of clay.

 Several Kindergarten girls sitting together made snowpeople family portrait sculptures. Below is one of my favorites, a self portrait riding a horse.

Next year if we get a district-wide agreement on what skills need to be mastered in clay at each grade level, I'm thinking about free choice as long as they demonstrate the skill.

Check out the related post, Loving Lumpy Pots!