My students need clay to create functional, sculptural and decorative ceramics as well as underglazes and glazes to decorate and add personal touches to their work. Tools will also enhance the studio experience.
Students in my art classes are eager to make, learn and grow. They are sophomores, juniors and seniors who have developed an interest in art by having already taken at least Studio Art I, and signed up for ceramics as a second full year course in the visual arts.
I am lucky to work with the diverse, motivated and talented group of students in my ceramics classes!
They often begin the year with little to no knowledge about Ceramics or 3D art, and leave having created some beautiful and informed works of ceramic art. Their varied backgrounds and identities prove to be a rich source of inspiration and collaboration in the ceramics classroom.
My Project
Students begin with little to no knowledge of ceramics and leave with an understanding of materials and the wide variety of ceramic art. They learn about the history of clay and different cultures who use clay. They also learn about the marketing of ceramic arts and the place of ceramics in contemporary art. Some examples of projects we tackle in Ceramics I and II are functional dinner sets, pinch pot sculptures, masks, vessels, and slab built identity homes. Some lessons/units are based on the work of a contemporary ceramic artist or a group of artists working together in a certain region of the world. Some are based on close observation of a real life item, and some are based on the thoughts and ideas of the individual student. I ask that students use other artwork as inspiration and look within themselves for inspiration. Whatever the assignment, students will learn new skills and techniques, and gain confidence in their ability to design, build and finish an original piece of art. My students need new clay to create functional and sculptural ceramics. And of course they need underglazes and glazes to decorate finished work.
Your donations are so important to my students art experience and sense of pride.
For many students, this class is why they come to school, every day! It means everything to us that ceramics happens. In 5 years offering Ceramics at my school, classes and interest has grown! We now sell student work to fundraise and support the program, install work in the hallways and visit local ceramics galleries. Students even had their work shown at a local gallery! All of these outreach efforts encourage ceramics students to take pride in and focus on their work.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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 Mrs. Thompson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
