Requirements

1. 1

   1. Studio Safety

   Studio Safety

   Explain to your counselor the precautions that must be followed for the safe use and operation of a potter’s tools, equipment, and other materials.
2. 2

   2. Clay Bodies & Wheels

   Do the following:

   Do all

   1. a.

      Clay Bodies for Two Jobs

      Do all

      Explain the properties and ingredients of a good clay body for the following:

      1. Making sculpture using the hand-building method

         1 Making sculpture using the hand-building method

      2. Throwing on the wheel

         2 Throwing on the wheel
   2. b.

      How Potters' Wheels Work

      Tell how three different kinds of potter’s wheels work.
3. 3

   3. Designing Forms

   Drawing Pottery Forms

   Make two drawings of pottery forms, each on an 8½-by-11-inch sheet of paper. One must be a historical pottery style. The other must be of your own design.
4. 4

   4. Pottery Vocabulary

   Pottery Vocabulary

   Explain the meaning of the following pottery terms: bat, wedging, throwing, leather hard, bone dry, greenware, bisque, terra-cotta, grog, slip, score, earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, pyrometric cone, and glaze.
5. 5

   5. Hands-On Making

   Build, Throw, and Fire

   Do all

   Do the following: Each piece is to be painted, glazed, or otherwise decorated by you.

   1. a.

      Make a slab pot, a coil pot, and a pinch pot.

   2. b.

      Make a human or animal figurine or decorative sculpture.

   3. c.

      Throw a functional form on a potter’s wheel.

   4. d.

      Help an experienced adult to load and fire a kiln OR describe in detail how to load and fire a kiln.

6. 6

   6. Ceramics in Daily Life

   The U.S. Ceramic Industry

   Explain the scope of the ceramic industry in the United States. Tell some things made other than craft pottery.
7. 7

   7. Choose Your Pottery Experience

   Choosing Your Field Experience

   Choose 1

   With your parent or guardian’s permission and your counselor’s approval, do ONE of the following:

   1. a

      Visit a Kiln Yard

      Visit the kiln yard at a local college or other craft school. Learn how the different kinds of kilns work, including low fire electric, gas or propane high fire, wood or salt/soda, and raku.
   2. b

      Learn from Pottery in Person

      Visit a museum, art exhibit, art gallery, artists’ co-op, or artist’s studio that features pottery. After your visit, share with your counselor what you have learned.
   3. c

      Pottery in History and Culture

      Using resources from the library, magazines, the internet (with your parent or guardian’s permission), and other outlets, learn about the historical and cultural importance of pottery. Share what you discovered with your counselor.
8. 8

   8. Careers & Future Paths

   Pottery Careers

   Find out about career opportunities in pottery. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.