Project Description

Students will build functional vessels that are intended to be both beautiful and usable upon completion. Using clay, students will learn hand-building techniques for making pottery, from preparing the clay, to shaping and altering forms, and finally to glazing a piece. Explore your creativity and make something you can use at home!

Final Product

Choose between the following options:
  • Mugs and Bowls: Each student will come away with their very own handmade mug or bowl
  • A Vessel for Life!: Each student will come away with their very own handmade vase or planter
  • Tea Party:  Each student will come away with their very own teacup, saucer, or pitcher
  • Treasure Boxes: Each student will come away with their very own lidded box (recommended for grade 3 and up)

Learning Outcomes

  • Students will learn how to prepare and wedge clay, as well as create a slab
  • Students will learn techniques for joining clay, including coiling, slipping and scoring, and pinching.
  • Students will gain confidence in their ability to work with their hands to create an object and work of art.
  • Students will develop a foundation for understanding structural integrity and architecture in small objects.
  • Students will learn how to work as a team to create a collaborative art piece.

Suggested Grades

  • Appropriate for all grade levels.

Pricing Breakdown

  • 4 visits at 45 minutes each
  • Prep hours: 3 hours per classroom (to glaze and fire student work)
  • Materials: $3.00 per student
  • Travel from Eugene

Nicole was positive, encouraging and kids had a tremendous amount of fun making their pottery!” — Howard Elementary

Why I teach:

“Guiding students to work with their hands, brains and spirits to create original art is both inspiring and rewarding. The fast machine-driven pace of our modern world begs us to slow down, and learning to use our bodies and minds for a creative experience is both nourishing and essential. I am honored to bring my own skills in ceramics to the classroom and continue this ancient tradition of working with clay to create useful and beautiful vessels.” -Nicole Hummel

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