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Last Updated: Wednesday, 23 July 2014 17:14

 

Project Info

• Grade Level:
• Class Periods to Complete:

This dinosaur is a basic hand building project which incorporates the element of designing fun and basic clay structure. Dinosaurs have a large appeal to children. They are portrayed in movies as well as children shows, toys and models.

• recognize the characteristics and diversity of Dinosaurs
• explore artistic mediums of clay and clay tools
• discover technique – slab building
• encounter principles of color, line, shape
• build self confidence and esteem ASSURED

Encourage kids to discover the differences in Dinosaurs. There are a varied group of animals from taxonomic, morphological and ecological standpoints and some birds survived the extinction event that occurred 65 million years ago, and continue the dinosaur lineage to the present day.

Vocabulary:

• Jurassic– Definition: Designating or of the second geologic period of the Mesozoic Era, characterized by the breakup of Laurasia and Gondwana and the development of giant dinosaurs and the first birds.
• Vertebrates - Definition: the five traditional classes of vertebrates are amphibians, birds, fishes, mammals, and reptiles.
• Paleontology – Definition: Paleontology is the study of the history of life.

• Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes
• Using Knowledge of Structures and Functions
• Choosing and Evaluating a Range of Subject Matter, Symbols, and Ideas
• Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines

Use the following three-point rubric to evaluate students’ work during this lesson.

• 3 points: Students demonstrated a strong understanding of the dynamics of clay and textural applications; understood glaze application and the process; answered all questions; provided at least one similarity and one difference among the diverse cultural amulets.
• 2 points: Students demonstrated a satisfactory understanding of the dynamics of clay and the textural applications; Understood glaze applications and the process; answered most of the questions; provided at least one similarity and one difference among the diverse cultural amulets.
• 1 point: Students demonstrated a poor understanding of the dynamics of clay and textural applications: did not understand glaze applications and process; answered very few of the questions; had difficulty identifying any similarities of difference between the cultures

Construction Phase

1. Use a slab roller to roll a slab of clay to ¼” thickness using wood slats as thickness guides. Place clay on canvas with ¼” wooden slats to the left and right of the clay ball. Use a rolling pin to flatten the clay until it is a ¼” thick slab. Slab should be approximately 9” x 5”.
2. Wrap the soda can with newspaper or copy paper and neatly trim away excess paper that extends beyond the top and bottom of the can. Tape edges of the paper together. (Newspaper prevents the can from sticking to the clay).
3. Lay can near the center of the remaining slab and wrap one edge of the slab over the can. Wrap the other edge of the clay over the first edge, making sure the edges overlap by at least ½” (1” preferable). (The area of overlap will create a significant bulge that will be cut through in the next step. The overlapped clay can be trimmed to 1” if too much overlap exists).
4. Lay the ruler on the overlapped clay area and cut through both layers of clay with a fettling knife, cutting from the top of the can to the bottom. Unwrap each side of the clay and remove the piece that was just cut, and rewrap the slab to confirm that the pieces connect to form a tight seam joint.
5. Score the side edges of the trimmed slab, apply slip to each edge and wrap around the can to create a seam. Smooth the seam with your finger; let the seam set up for approximately 5 minutes.
6. Create another ¼” slab with excess clay.
7. Score the bottom of your cylinder and apply slip to this scored edge. Place the cylinder on this new slab. Cut out a circular shape approximately 1/8 “ wider than the cylinder . Use the clay that extends beyond the cylinder base up and against the cylinder to create a sealed base. Use water and your finger to smooth the seam.
8. Use a needle tool to create a small perforation on the cylinder bottom and begin to push the can up and out of the cylinder. Once the can is removed also remove the paper. Fill the hole in the base with clay.
9. With a spoon press inside of the clay shape to form a belly, for the dinosaur. The clay must still be in a softer state in order to do this, otherwise, wet the spoon first.
10. For the head cut a 4” circle for the top of the head section, trim the two sides of the circle to change to an oval. For the lower jaw, cut the 4” circle and then cut a crescent shape from it one inch for the widest section of the crescent.
11. Score and slip attach the lower jaw to the cylinder; the head section fits over, leaving a gap for the teeth. Prop open the mouth with a couple pieces of clay, which will be removed later. Score and slip attach the top of the head to the lower jaw, trim and fill in with coiled clay where necessary.
12. Roll small coils, point the tips of the clay, and then flatten for the teeth, attach to the lower jaw, filling in the gap, remove the clay supports.
13. Press with your thumb the areas for the eyes, roll some round balls, cut one of sides of the ball to flatten, then attach into this section for the eyes.
14. Roll fat coils for the legs, and arms, bend the fat coils to make the hip and leg section, attach to the sides of the shape, make fat balls of clay then flatten for the feet, attach to the leg section.
15. Flatten the bent coil for the upper arm and attach in place for the arms, for the hands by pinching the clay at the end of the arm, score in some fingers.
16. Roll another fat coil thinner on one end then attach to the back for a tail.
17. Cut small triangles for the spikes; attach starting from the center of the head down the back and onto the tail. Make smaller triangles as you proceed down to the tail.
18. Allow to dry
19. Bisque fire to shelf cone 04.

Glazing Phase

1. Using a CB-602 #2 Soft Fan, apply 1 coat of FN-008 Brown to the chest area. When dry, apply 2 coats of SC-16 Cotton Tail to the chest area over the FN-008 Brown. Allow to dry.
2. Using a CB-404 #4 Pointed Round, apply 3 coats of SC-88 Tu Tu Tango to the sides of the spins on the back and 3 coats of SC-28 Blue Isle to the edges of the spines.
3. Using a CB-202 #2 Detail Liner, apply 2-3 coats of SC-16 Cotton Tail to the teeth and to the eye area.
4. Using a CB-202 #2 Detail Liner, apply 2 coats of SC-31 The Blues to the iris and SC-15 Tuxedo to the pupil, add a dot of SC-16 Cotton Tail for a highlight.
5. Using the AC-213 Sponge on a Stick load the sponge with SC-15 Tuxedo. Tap the SC-15 Tuxedo onto the ST-113 Circulate Stamp then press the stamp gently onto the chest.
6. Using a CB-602 #2 Soft Fan, apply 2 coats of CG-976 Teal Drop to the remaining areas of the body.
7. Using aCB-110 #10/0 Liner, outline the eyes and detail the dinosaur. Allow to dry.
8. Stilt and fire to shelf cone 05/06.