Little research exists on using clay as an anxiety-reducing intervention with patients in psychiatric hospitals. This article reports on a study that used a one-group, pretest/posttest design with 49 adults in a psychiatric facility who created a clay pinch pot. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used as a pre- and posttest measure.…

What began as a review lesson in clay construction quickly became a fun learning experience filled with inspiring conversations and creatively painted birds. This lesson was successful from beginning to end, with a final reward when the artwork was displayed. The author describes the process of working on this project and shares how the students…

Although the craft and art of bookmaking has a rich history, artworks about books are relatively new. The author teaches in a school that has an international population where a variety of languages and cultures flourish. He took this opportunity to develop a ceramic unit that combined sculptural design, the history of bookmaking, and traditional…

Raku is an ancient Japanese process of firing pottery in which the bisqued piece is glazed and placed in a preheated kiln. Described are the benefits of substituting sawdust and charcoal for firing pottery by those people who do not have access to a kiln. (KC)

Described is the process of making four pottery items: a planter with drainage dish, a bird feeder, a square pot, and an oil lamp. (KC)

Described is the process of firing clay pottery through the use of a charcoal kettle grill, an inexpensive alternative to the kiln. (KC)

Art teachers at the middle school or junior high school level usually find themselves in a program teaching ceramics. The most essential tools needed for a ceramics class are discussed. Different kinds of clay are also discussed. (RM)

In two related articles, the author describes (1) a field trip during which his high school ceramics club collected clay from the outdoors and (2) the process he used to create primitive pottery pieces from such material. (SJL)

Scrounging, cooperation, and resourcefulness have made pottery the most popular--and the most visible--art class in a Missouri high school. The pottery course is described. (RM)

To help them get the cylindrical shape necessary for making pottery beer mugs, high school art students used flexible armatures stuffed with vermiculite. (RM)

Relates pottery making to chemistry by providing chemical information about clay, its origin, composition, properties, and changes that occur during firing; also describes glaze compositions, examples of redox chemistry, salt glazing, crystalline glazes, and problems in toxicity. (CS)

Presents an elementary art activity that successfully teaches the process of slabbing by having students create fishbowl plaques. Explains the process step-by-step beginning with a demonstration to the students along with showing previous examples. Endorses a type of clay that fires white because the glaze colors are much more vibrant. (CMK)

At the NAEA conference in Minneapolis, Carpenter and Sessions asked, "What are we teaching, especially about ceramics?" Art educators are often criticized for leaving out historical context when teaching studio art. In this article, the author offers guidelines, based on national and state art standards, and share the results of teaching…

Suggested is an alternative to the traditional ceramics instruction which uses prewedged and prepackaged clay and highly sophisticated kilns: begin with the digging of clay and end with the construction and firing of a trench kiln. (KC)

Describes an art project that integrated science and art education. Explains that students create ceramic bowls by using real leaves. Discusses the process of creating the ceramic bowls, including how to glaze the bowls. Includes a list of materials. (CMK)