Making My Own Stilts for the Kiln

Stilts seem to be in short supply for my ceramics program. I know you can use shards of broken ceramics, etc., but I really prefer the stilts. So I used my Amazon app and I purchased my stilt pins from National Arcraft. They sell ceramic and pottery heat tolerant stilt pins for making kiln firing supports, in pkg. of 500 pins for $21.50. I purchased 500 pins.

I wasn't sure the best sizes or shapes to create, so I just thought about what is the trickiest to fire and I found that the smaller pieces that students make are often more difficult for the students to glaze without getting glaze on the bottom. These are the pieces that would really benefit from being fired with stilts.

To make the stilts, I basically rolled out slabs and cut the base shapes that I wanted and then inserted the pins. I used the bottom of a cup to lightly press on top of the pins in order to have the pins all pressed down in the clay to a level height with one another.

I created stilts in squares, triangles, circles, and long, narrow rectangles. After the stilts had all dried to bone dry, I put the stilts in with a bisque fire at cone 06.

Now, when I need stilts, I have plenty! When I use the stilts for glaze firing,  I brush kiln wash on them, being sure to coat the metal pins. They really work well. If I had more time, I could buy the wire and cut them myself, but right now, I just don't have that kind of time! The stilts are working well and I would recommend you giving this method a try if you need more stilts for your classroom.

Making an Impression with Ceramic Lace Bird Ornaments

Finished Ceramic Ornaments on Kiln Shelf

I want to share a fun project that can be used when you want your students to be able to make something to take home as a gift. This is something that works well for all students, regardless of skill level and/or need for adaptive devices or accommodations.  For those students who have a Christmas tree, they make a great ornament. For anyone else, they make a great piece of art that can easily be displayed anywhere.

Since my students are doing so well with the slab techniques and are loving textures, I decided to have them create something that would involve rolling a slab, creating a texture by imprinting something into the clay, and would require a different glaze technique. I think they did a great job! 

This is a great activity for all ages and/or abilities! Below are the actual photos I used to create a visual direction sheet for my students. For all of the clay projects I do with my students, I create a sheet of the steps illustrated with photos. This is key to everyone being successful. It also eliminates any confusion anyone else helping the students may have, such as aides and/or paraprofessionals.

Canvas, 2 Rulers, and a Rolling Pin

Place the clay between the two rulers.

Roll the clay until it is a height even with the rulers.

Place doilies on top of the clay.

Use the Rolling Pin to lightly press the doilies into the clay surface.

Gently remove the doilies from the clay.

   

Lay a template for the bird body and wing on the clay.

Use a clay tool to trace around the templates.
(Press all the way through the clay.)

Remove extra clay from around the templates as you cut.

You should have a bird body and a bird wing.

Use a tool or toothpick to score the back of the wing.

Add slip on the scored area and lay in place on the bird body.

Use a tool or toothpick to smooth the edges around the wing.
Make sure the wing is attached and there are no gaps.

Use a tool to create a hole above the wing.
This hole can be used for attaching a ribbon or string for hanging.

The bird ornaments are then bisque fired. Students use a brush to apply a thick coat of blue underglaze to the top of the bird. Then, they use a small, damp sponge to wipe any glaze from the raised areas of the bird. The raised areas are then painted with a coat of white underglaze using a foam brush. When the birds are dry, clear glaze is added to them in order to give a nice uniform clear sheen. The ornaments are glaze fired to cone 06.

This is an activity that many of my students with limited hand use are able to do with assistance and they are very excited to see the results. The sponging and foam brushes work well for students who struggle with fine motor skills. Everyone can be successful and the ornaments look great! 

I try to come up with ideas for my students that can highlight what they are capable of doing instead of their limitations. Art projects that allow them to explore and be creative while also creating art that    can appeal to others aesthetically in order to build an appreciation of their artwork. An appreciation that gives my students a sense of pride in what they can offer others through art. Clay for form and function! Love it!

Slump Fish Dish

I am working with students that have very limited fine motor and gross motor skills. As I experiment with different materials, I try to find materials and projects that the students can use to express themselves, but also have the added joy of being able to share something they can be proud of making. Sometimes this means looking at what I know they can do and finding a project that will highlight their special creative skills,  mark making or painting in a way that is not only fun and creative, but also something that is aesthetically pleasing to their family. It is so important to have their families support what they are creating and to understand the importance of art. I want them to be able to enjoy art after I no longer have them as students.

Working with ceramics is really a good solution. My students do not all have the dexterity or hand strength to create ceramics with pinching or pulling the clay, but they do well working with a slab of clay.

My students are currently working on a couple of clay projects, in different stages. I'd like to share one project I feel is going pretty well. This project is the slump fish dish and I think it is really going to be awesome! I made templates for my students out of tag board and laminated them and then cut them out. Students worked to wedge their clay and then roll a slab. Once they had a nice even slab (thanks to 2 rulers), they laid the template on their clay slab and traced around it. Some of my students need assistance with rolling the clay, some students need assistance with tracing the template.

Once the excess clay was cut away, students used found objects to create lines and patterns on their clay fish. When the fish design was complete, students carefully laid the fish (design side down) over the bottom of a small styrofoam bowl. I had two approaches for the bottom due to different ability levels. Some students just wrote their name on the bottom and they were finished. Other students rolled a small diameter coil of clay and used "score, slip, smooth" to add a foot to the bottom of the dish before signing their name.


Even with a wide range of abilities, the project has been successful so far. Right now, the slump fish dishes have been bisque fired and are waiting to be glazed. I can't wait to see how they do with the painting! I will be sure to post our finished project.