Thursday, March 29, 2012

Living Thing Teapots





This may be my all-time favorite 3rd grade project!  The project starts off with plane tickets and a plane ride to Japan, which is just all the stools lined up like the seats on a plane.  The kids even get an in-flight meal of seaweed and Japanese candy!  There may also be some turbulence, but only if the kids are behaving well.  Once we land, we get in our 'bus' in front of the projector to watch a presentation on Japanese culture and beliefs.  It's our own tour!  When the tour is over, the kids get to check into their 'hotels', or their tables, where various Japanese phrases are printed.  They get a few minutes to practice writing before class is over.

The unit consists of Sumi-e painting, printmaking, origami and constructing teapots. 

For the teapot lesson, students learn all about the tea ceremony and the importance of tea and the teapot to Japanese culture.  They are told that they get to make their own teapots, to which they freak out!  Anything with clay and they are HAPPY!  But, their creative challenge to the teapots is to make them to resemble something living, animal or plant.

They get plenty of time to brainstorm, build a clay reference book and practice several hand building techniques before deciding on what to make and which technique fits best with their design.  Here are just a few of the amazing results.  I LOVE that each one looks completely different from the next.  I even saw baseball players, aliens, dragons, unicorns, flowers, and even one of me! 

13 comments:

  1. What a great experience for your students - I bet it will be remembered & cherished for quite some time!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very impressive! How much time does the whole unit last? (How often do you see the kids?)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry for the delay Phyl, we were on break for 2 weeks and the first week back was maddness! The whole unit takes about 13-14 classes. I have them every 3 days for 50 minute classes, so it is easy to have long, continuous projects.

      Delete
  3. I love these tea pots; so cute.
    Can I have one? :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sure! I'll have the kiddos make you some!

      You don't know how much I wish I could take these home myself.

      Delete
  4. These are quite Sweet!!! Thanks for sharing.

    MiniMatisse.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your enthusiasm and dedication are sure to spill over onto your students. What an amazing and fun unit on Japan and it's many forms of beautiful art. I wish I could have been on the "plane" that day with you and your students!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Pat! If you want, I'll purchase you a plane ticket on our next "flight"!

      P.S. Sorry about the delayed response, I am just getting back from vacation!

      Delete
  6. How does one follow your blog? I don't see anywhere to join. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There should be a follow button in the upper left hand area of your blogspot tool bar. Let me know if you can't find it. I'm new to this!

      Delete
  7. A fantastic unit of work - and the teapots are glorious! Your students are lucky to have such a creative teacher :) Like Pat I can't find the follow button. I've added your url to my reader, but it might be easier for others if you added a follow widget to your side bar? Will be following you now with great anticipation :) :)

    ReplyDelete