In this lesson you will:
First you will need to get permission to fire your garbage can kiln on school property or outside at home. Any open area on a sandy or dirt surface away from any combustible materials will do. You will need to drill holes at 6" intervals in the sides and lid of a small galvanized garbage can. For fuel you will use dried sheep, cow or horse dung mixed with sawdust. Read more about various primitive firing methods (http://art.sdsu.edu/ceramicsweb/articles/primitive.html). For fun, name your kiln. Alan Jim calls his "Rosie." The students at Leupp School named theirs "Puffer."
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Load the kiln and light as early in the morning as possible. You will put a layer of mixed fuel (about half dung and half sawdust – the mixture is not critical) on the bottom of the can to a depth of about 10 inches. Then add one or more pots and cover with more fuel. Continue this process until the pots are all places and covered with about 10 more inches of fuel. You will light the fuel in several places around the top of the can. Then place the lid very loosely over the top. Don't fit it in place! The fuel should smolder with wisps of smoke rising from the kiln. Check your kiln at the end of day. What you should find is your pots nestled in a bed of gray ashes. If it hasn't totally burnt down, be sure that you have some means of protecting the kiln overnight. Next day, unload the pots. Prepare for a final critique using the artmaking criteria from Lesson 4 as the basis for your discussion. Look especially for the cloud spirits on the pots.
Do your pots demonstrate controlled skill and craftsmanship, and a sensitivity to form and function? Do a final assessment of your pots evaluating each for:
Recheck the Assessment Worksheet
If most of your marks are in the first space, you are beginning in your potmaking skills. If most of your marks are in the second space, your pots are competent. If most of your marks are in the last space, your pots are exceptional.
This is an optional assignment since it may not be possible for you to do this at your school, but if you can you will be firing your pots in the Navajo way.
Nigrosh, Leon. 1986, Claywork: Form and Idea in Ceramic Design. Davis Publications, Inc.: Worcester, MA.
Hartman, Russell and J. Musial. 1987, Navajo Pottery: Traditions and Innovations. Northland Publishing: Flagstaff AZ.
Here are some additional activities related to other subject areas that you might want to explore.
Math
Geography
Language Arts
Social Studies
- Develop a marketing plan to sell student made pots.
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