This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
"Will we be able to drink out of this cup when we are finished making it? Will I be able to eat out of this bowl?" Students love to make functional artwork and ceramic glazes will give them the opportunity to put what they make to good use.
Our school is located in a predominately African-American suburb of a large city.
Most of our students receive free/reduced lunch. Art is not always a high priority at home, so we try to expose students to a variety of materials above and beyond basic drawing supplies. Students are always excited about coming to art class! Our school is one year old and located in the suburb of a major metropolitan area. We have a beautiful art room and two dedicated art teachers. Our county is very supportive of the arts, however our budgets have been slashed due to tough economic times. Our county has eliminated elementary band and orchestra programs, and we feel that a strong visual art program is more important than ever. Because our school is new, we do not have the stock piles of supplies that many older schools do, but we are finding it difficult to keep our "everyday" supplies stocked, as well as provide students with unique opportunities on our tight budget.
My Project
To create vivid colors on clay projects, we have had to use regular tempera paint and protect it with a clear acrylic spray. This makes the clay colorful, but prevents it from being functional. Students are proud of their artwork and want to be able to use it. The glazes we have requested are lead-free and food safe and will make the clay waterproof. Glazing is a more traditional and authentic method of decorating ceramics, and is more permanent than tempera paint. Clay is a mandatory part of our county art curriculum.
Art is not a top priority in many of our students' homes.
Students that have parents who support art may not have access to supplies beyond the basics. We feel that it is important to expose our students to a wide variety of materials. Teaching about and creating ceramics requires a lot of special supplies. Students love the tactile nature of clay and are proud to create both beautiful and functional art. Ceramic glazes will enable students to use what they make.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Muhlheim and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.