What Did the Wampanoags Make?

Melody Presenting the Projects

What a great finale to working with wet clay!  This week we visited the third grade, who studied the Wampanoags, the local native people, this year.

 

First we made an oval basket shaped bowl, and used the end of a straw to imitate the wampum beadwork patterns that the Wampanoags would string onto belts. Traditional geometric patterns inspired some children, while others imitated the more floral and curvilinear beadwork that the native peoples produced after contact with the colonials.  We pressed these slabs into the foam to make a sweet tray.

We talked about what great weavers the Wampanoags are, how they wove baskets out of native sweetgrass and ryegrass–we even looked at the basket work of Emma Safford, the last living descendant of Chief Massasoit, who lived in Lakeville, Mass. in the early part of the twentieth century.

Another slab was rolled, and this time the students cut the clay into long strips, which they wove on the canvas.  Then they gently eased the woven mat of clay into a bowl mold, making a round basket.  Another strip attached along the rim, and another beautiful bowl was made!

 

Good job everyone!

 

What did the Wampanoags make?  Baskets, beads, belts, longhouses, games, cradle boards, and many other beautiful things but– NOT POTTERY!

 

Photo credit: Shunsuke Yamaguchi

Revolutionary Redware

Oh, the anticipation! Orginally scheduled for our first workshop only to have it cancelled by snow, the 5th graders’ excitement had been building for quite some time

We began by talking about the types of pottery that would typically be found in a New England household during the Colonial Era and the American Revolution such as milk pans and chamber pots. We learned that potters were also farmers. Using native clays that turned red upon firing, they made functional pottery during the winters when farm life was less demanding. The potter’s craft became even more important during the Revolution when imports were scarce.

First, students rolled out slabs of clay and pressed them into foam to create trays. The trays were then decorated with with white slip (a mixture of clay and water). The results were reminiscent of Colonial milk pans.

Next, clay was pressed into molds to create bowl forms. Students were shown how to make and add attachments to create cups or chamber pots and even whimsical animals!

Stay tuned for the finished results!

 

Photo Credit: Shunsuke Yamaguchi

Cherry Blossoms

Here in New England there is still three feet –and more– of snow on the ground!  The weather is making us long for Spring, which (we hope) is just around the corner.

What better time than now to do a lesson on Hanami, or cherry blossom viewing in Japan?  By serendipity, Mrs. Giovannini’s class had just painted some beautiful cherry blossoms that were hanging outside her room.  So her kindergarteners were completely prepared!

We talked about picnics under the colorful trees, lying on the grass and looking up at the sky.

 

 

Finished Cherry Blossom Bowls

And then to work!  The kids made charming cherry blossom bowls by rolling out a slab, pressing texture into it, and tracing a cherry blossom shape.  They then pressed the clay into foam, and voila!  A five petaled bowl!

After that out came the cookie cutters.  Another slab was rolled and textured.  This time the children made the bowl on the outside of the mold.  They smoothed it very well, and when you take off the mold, the inside texture and shapes look like a flower.

 

In a few weeks we’ll be back again for glazing!

 

Photos by Shunsuke Yamaguchi

Tiempo de Talavera

rolling slabs

 

So now we are really rolling!

The first graders learned about the importance of “la comida” in Mexican life, and really looked at some beautiful images of ornately designed ceramic plates, pitchers, and even a toilet!

Lace

 

Antique lace provided the perfect texture reminiscent of the symmetrical paintings found on traditional Mexican pottery.  The kids rolled one square plate and pushed the edges into the foam.

 

The Big Reveal

 

Then they used cookie cutters to cut shapes from another textured slab to make a bowl inside the form.  When the mold is removed, the texture and shapes on the outside are revealed!

Cookie Cutters

 

We can’t wait to see these painted!

And as always, the kids chose which bowl they are going to give to Arlington EATs for our big fundraiser May 16!

Choosing

 

Concentrating

 

 

Photos by Shunsuke Yamaguchi

Wabi-Sabi Wonders

Fish plate template

In the midst of a frozen February, the second graders created Japanese style trays with pine, boxwood and ivy textures.  The evergreens smelled fresh and cool–still green from the snow packed grounds of Thompson School.

Before they started slamming and rolling, we talked about “wabi-sabi,” the Japanese concept of the beauty in natural, aged, well worn objects.  The kids got to look at and hold Japanese pots.  (“Will we get to make a teapot?” one hopeful boy queried.)

Did you know that in Japan most people eat of lots of little dishes rather than one big round plate?  These small trays are perfect for nuts, olives, or maybe even a cucumber roll!

Pressing with wood to make a bowl

Working together

Mrs. Ferola’s class with Melody and their bowls

Lifting the texture

Rolling the slab

Ready to be pressed

Proud

 

We are publishing these posts a little after the events have finished since we are so busy making and firing work at the Thompson School.  We are getting ready for Arlington EATS’ big celebration on May 16 featuring all these beautiful bowls.  More information coming soon!

 

Photos by Karin Roth and Shunsuke Yamaguchi

Pueblo Pottery Palooza!

4th Graders getting excited about clay

After a week’s delay from so much snow, Thompson’s 4th graders got their hands in clay on February 4th!

Rolling coils of white clay on to terra cotta

Pinching a bowl using a mold.

We slammed out slabs, rolled in patterns and pinched pots like the Pueblo potters of the American Southwest, our inspiration and curriculum connection.

Students played with natural clay dug up from the coast of Maine while learning about how clay is formed and how the Native American potters prospected for different types of clay to use.

Finished and drying!

After looking at traditional patterns that use radial symmetry of the interior of bowls, the students composed their own inlay design using coils of white clay on red terra cotta.

Pinch Pots!

Melody coaching

Eileen helping

Thanks to the fourth graders, the teachers and our volunteers, we had a great time in the classroom on our first day.  The kids have decided which bowl they are going to keep, and which they are going to donate to Arlington EATS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos by Julie Rackliffe Lucey