Lesson Title: Chinese Symbolism Pots

Grade: 5
Unit: Symbolism:
Time Period: 7 days/ 45 minute class periods
Lesson Objectives:

Students will gain an understanding of symbolism and how it is used by artists.

Students with identify how symbols can have multiple meanings depending on culture, country
and personal beliefs.
Students will incorporate at least three elements that symbolize a common motif.
Students will create three-dimensional pots using coil building clay techniques.
Students will reflect on their work by writing about the symbols they have chosen.

SOLs:

5.1- Student will apply reflective thinking throughout the art making process to create works of
art: Brainstorming, Problem solving, sketching, planning, reflecting, and refining.
5.3- Student will develop artistic voice/vision through voices of media techniques and subject
matter.
5.4- Student will explain and apply the elements of art and principles of design to express
meaning in works of art.
5.5- Student will create three-dimensional works of art using various media and techniques,
including clay.
5.8/5.19- Student will interpret contemporary and historical works of art for multiple meanings.

Concept Questions:

What is a symbol?
What is symbolism?
How do artists use symbolism?
Can a symbol mean one thing to one person and a different thing to a different person?

Pre-Assessment: Students will be given a pre-assessment quiz on symbolism and coil building. Three
multiple choice questions and two open ended questions.
Anticipatory Set: Show an image of the American Flag. Students will work in groups making a list of
what the flag means to them and what it represents. The class then discusses and creates one large class
list.
Lesson Sequence:
1. Power Point presentation on symbolism.
2. Anticipatory Set
3. Presentation on symbolism in Chinese culture.

4. Present sketchbook activity in which students pick a Chinese Character (from handout), an
animal or plant and a color. They draw them in their sketchbook and write what these are, what
they represent and why they chose them. They draw out several sketches of what they want the
form of their pot to be.
5. Demo making the base and coils and how to slip and score.
6. Students work independently on creating the base and attaching a coil.
7. Students then do a dry run of coil building to practice forming the pot.
8. After the dry run they can begin to slip and score the coils down.
9. Once the pot is tall enough the students will smooth out the outside to prepare for decoration.
10. Students will carve at least one Chinese character into the pot.
11. Students are given the option of carving the plant or animal into the pot, adding a threedimensional animal to the pot or forming the pot into the animal form.
12. After bisque firing the pots students will then glaze using one color that ties into the motif to
represent the animal and character chosen.
13. The pieces will then be glaze fired and the students will reflect and write about their work, what
it represents and the process by which they made it.
Materials:
Teacher:

Power Point
Laptop
Projector
Examples
Chinese character handout

Students:

Clay
Sketchbook
Clay tools
Water/slip
Ziploc bags
Glaze
Containers for slip
Rags for cleanup
Windex for cleanup

Closure: Students will reflect and write about their work, what it represents and the process by
which they made it. To close out class periods ask questions such as: What is coil building? What
process are we using to attach our coils? Name an artist that we learn about that uses symbolism?