Unit: African Art

Grades: 3-4 Intermediate

African Coil Pot

Objectives

Students will build a form using the coil technique. (MO)

Students will identify and demonstrate sculpture- in-the-round. (MO)

Art Production
Anticipatory Set State Objectives Input (art history, instructions) Demo
Check for Understanding Guided Practice Independent Practice Closure

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Display examples of Model Magic coil pots and ceramic coil pots that
students can handle and look at. Ask students to speculate how these
vessels might have been constructed.
Today were going to use Model Magic that we roll into coils and layer
together to create an African pot sculpture.
Africancoilpots.pptx
Demonstrate the proper method for rolling a coil out of model magic.
Coils should be about a pinkies width in diameter. Remind students to
roll their coils slowly and work from the middle out with both hands to
create an even coil.
Check for understanding: Have everyone roll out a coil to demonstrate the
proper technique.
Guided practice: Once students have rolled out their practice coil, show
them how to make a spiral for their base. Students should then spiral their
coil to create the base for their pot. If the coil is not long enough to create
a big enough bottom have them add another coil to complete it.
Demonstrate stacking a clay coil onto the base to begin the construction of
the pots walls.
Independent Practice: Allow students to work independently to create
coils and build the layers for the sides of their pots.
Closure: As students begin finishing their pots explain to them how we
will be finishing their pieces in the next class period by painting them
with watercolors. Ask them to be thinking about what colors they would
like to use for their pots. Do they want to use browns and reds like in the
African pots or do they want to use more vibrant colors like primary
colors to decorate their pieces? Have each student tell you one color they
would like to use on their pots as they put them on the drying boards and
line up.

African Coil Pot

Medium: Model Magic

Durations: 2 class periods

Materials
Model Magic (white + small amount of a
color for evaluation project)
Watercolor paints
Watercolor paintbrushes #8 or #9
#2 Pencils

Elements of Art
Form

Principles of Design
Repetition

Vocabulary
Sculpture
Ceramics
Coil
Three Dimensional

Art History/Resources
Africancoilpots.pptx

Modifications/Notes
Physical Disability Modification:
-Some students with less skilled motor
functions may have difficulty rolling an
even coil. Provide these students with a
thin long piece of sturdy mat board or
wood that they can place over their clay
to assist them in rolling out the coil.
Cognitive Disability Modification:
-For students who are hyperactive rolling
a coil slowly can be a difficult task. Help
them to control their speed by having

Aesthetic Questions
Can pots that are functional, used for a purpose, be art too?

Art Criticism/Analysis Questions

How stable is your pot? Are the coils so small that the form begins to cave in
or is it consistent and strong from bottom to top?
How did you use or could have used the coils to decorate your pot?

Evaluation Criteria
After students have finished painting their pots, provide them with a small
amount of white and a small amount of colored Model Magic and a #2 Pencil.
Have the students demonstrate how they would roll a coil but this time
mashing the two colors together to create a marbled effect (this coil should
also be thinner than their pot coils). Once they have a teacher-approved coil,
have them wrap it in a tight spiral around their number two pencil to create a
grip for their pencil (about 1.5-2 inches in length). With sharpie marker write
each students name on their pencil when they are finished and have them
place it in their classs pencil cup. This will now be their own personal pencil
with grip for working in art class.

African Coil Pot

them count slowly from one two three as

they roll their coil forward and again as
they roll it backwards.
Giftedness Modification:
-Have students who finish their coil pots
early add embellishments to their pots or
create a lid for their pot using the coil
technique.

DAY TWO: Project Continuation:

After the pieces are dry, take a class
period for students to watercolor paint
their pots. Do not use water based
markers or tempera paint, it will cause
the Model Magic to become tacky and not
dry completely.