Activity 01
Inquiry Circle: The Junk Challenge
Groups are given a mystery bag of 'junk' (lids, straws, cardboard scraps) and a specific prompt (e.g., 'build something that flies'). They must work together to use every item in the bag to create a stable sculpture.
Evaluate the challenges of building upwards with a heavy material like clay.
Facilitation TipDuring The Junk Challenge, ask students to hold their structures and listen for sounds that indicate weakness, like wobbling or creaking, before they decide a join is secure.
What to look forObserve students as they join two coils. Ask: 'Show me how you are scoring the clay. Where are you applying the slip? Why is this step important for keeping the pot together?'
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Activity 02
Gallery Walk: Transformation Tour
Students display their sculptures alongside a 'before' photo of the materials they used. The class moves around, discussing how the artist successfully transformed the objects so they no longer look like 'trash'.
Design a coil pot that demonstrates strong and smooth joins.
Facilitation TipFor the Transformation Tour, place a small mirror on the floor so students can assess the underside of their sculptures without lifting them.
What to look forStudents photograph their coil pot at two stages of construction (e.g., half-height and near completion). They then share with a partner, discussing: 'What challenges did you face building upwards? How did you ensure your joins were strong?'
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Activity 03
Think-Pair-Share: Joining Solutions
Students are presented with two tricky-to-join objects (e.g., a round bottle and a flat piece of wood). They brainstorm three different ways to join them without using standard glue, then share their best idea with the class.
Compare the advantages of coil building versus pinch pot methods for different forms.
Facilitation TipIn Think-Pair-Share, provide only one glue bottle per pair to force collaboration and discussion about glue use before applying it.
What to look forOn an index card, students draw a simple diagram showing the score and slip technique. They write one sentence explaining why this method is crucial for building tall clay forms.
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Generate Complete Lesson→A few notes on teaching this unit
Teach coil building by modeling the techniques yourself while narrating your thinking aloud, especially when troubleshooting. Avoid demonstrating only the 'perfect' version, as students learn more from seeing how to fix mistakes. Research shows that tactile feedback, like feeling the weight shift when a join is unstable, cements understanding better than verbal explanation alone.
Successful learning looks like students confidently joining materials with purpose, checking stability from all angles, and explaining their choices with clear language about technique and form. They should move beyond decoration to solve real structural problems.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
During The Junk Challenge, watch for students adding excessive glue to joins.
Provide a limited amount of glue (e.g., one small bottle per student) and ask them to demonstrate how they would reinforce the join mechanically before using adhesive.
During the Gallery Walk Transformation Tour, watch for students arranging their work against a wall or flat surface.
Place each sculpture on a rotating lazy susan and ask students to rotate it fully, observing how the piece looks from all sides to reinforce the idea that sculpture must be stable and interesting in the round.
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