Third Grade

Heather Abbott

Thiebaud Clay Cupcake

3 class periods
Unit: Form

Standards:
3P.1.1 The student will identify innovative solutions used by artists to solve
visual problems.
3P.1.2 The student will use various art processes and techniques to produce
works of art that demonstrate craftsmanship.
3P.1.3 The student will develop art ideas from a variety of sources, including
print, non-print, and technology.
3P.4.1 The student will compare, contrast, and use a variety of shapes
(geometric, organic, and free-form) in works of art.
3P.5.1 The student will identify and use architectural forms (e.g. cube,
cylinder, sphere, pyramid, and cone).
3P.15.1
The student will create a work of art in clay using the coil
building process.
3P.17.1
The student will observe safe procedures and behave
responsibly when using materials, tools and equipment.
3C.1.1The student will recognize, explore, and demonstrate the process of
describing, analyzing, interpreting, evaluating and responding to works of art.
3C.1.4The student will discuss the difference between art and other types of
objects using appropriate art vocabulary.
3C.1.6The student will express informed judgments about works of art.
3A.1.4The student will develop and describe personal reasons for valuing
works of art.
Student Outcomes:
The student will create a cupcake out of clay using the coil building process.
The student will analyze, recognize and appreciate artwork by Wayne Thiebaud.
The student will critique and describe their process and artwork.
Activities:
Day 1:
- Enter and sit at tables.
- Review and discuss Thiebauds artwork. Review and discuss the qualities of
clay.
- Give each student a piece of clay. Give each table a cup of slip and several
clay tools.
- Demonstrate how to make a pinch pot out of half the clay to serve as the
cupcake cake. Demonstrate how to use the rest of the clay to make a long, even
coil. Demonstrate how to use the score and slip method to attach the coil to itself
while building it up to form a cone shape to serve as the frosting. Demonstrate how
to attach small pieces to serve as cupcake toppings (sprinkles, cherries, etc.).
- Students work independently at their tables to create a cupcake out of clay.
- Clean up. Scratch name and class code in bottom of cupcake. Poke an
airhole in bottom of cupcake.
- Line up and assess class stars.
- Allow clay to dry for several days and then fire in kiln.
Day 2:

Third Grade

Heather Abbott

- Enter and sit at tables.

- Art Smart: Draw and color your cupcake. Pass out markers and images of
cupcakes for reference.
- Review what clay cupcakes were like before they were fired. Explain firing
process and glazing process. Demonstrate how to use glaze to add color to cupcake
carefully.
- Pass out cupcakes. Students move around the room to use the glaze colors
they want.
- Clean up. Place cupcakes on clay cart.
- Line up and assess class stars.
- Fire glazed cupcakes in kiln.
Day 3:
- Enter and sit at tables.
- Explain that as artists we need to be able to talk about our artwork and the
process we used to make it.
- Pass out finished clay cupcakes.
- Using guided questions, students write artist statements about their clay
cupcakes.
- Clean up. Collect cupcakes to be saved for art show.
- Line up and assess class stars.
Materials:
- Sketchbooks
- Pencils/erasers
- Thiebauds Tasty Paintings video
- Markers
- Images of cupcakes
- Clay
- Kiln
- Glaze (assorted colors)
- Paintbrushes
Vocabulary:
- Clay
- Coil
- Slip
- Score
- Kiln
- Glaze

Third Grade

Heather Abbott

Assessment:
Category

S+

Creativity

The students
work
demonstrates a
great deal of
creativity and
exhibits originality
in thinking.
The student fully
participated in
class discussion
related to this
project.

Participation
-Class discussion

Fulfillment of
Assignment
-The student will
create a cupcake
out of clay using
the coil building
process.
- The student will
glaze their clay
cupcake.
- The student will
write an artist
statement about
their clay cupcake.

Work
habits/Effort

- The student
created a realistic
cupcake,
effectively using
the coil building
process. The
student added
details such as
sprinkles, cherry,
etc.
- The student
glazed the
cupcake carefully.
- The student
wrote a thoughtful
and thorough
artist statement
about their clay
cupcake.
The student
consistently
stayed on task
and put forth their
best effort when
working on their
project.

S-

The students
work
demonstrates
creativity.

The students
work
demonstrates
little creativity.

The students
work does not
exhibit creativity.

The student
willingly
participated in
class discussion
related to this
project.
- The student
created a realistic
cupcake,
effectively using
the coil building
process.
- The student
glazed the
cupcake.
- The student
wrote an artist
statement about
their clay cupcake.

The student
inconsistently
participated in
class discussion
related to this
project.
- The student
attempted to
create a cupcake,
ineffectively using
the coil building
process.
- The student
applied glaze in a
disorganized
manner.
- The student
attempted to write
an artist
statement about
their clay cupcake
but wrote very
little.

The student did

not participate in
class discussion
related to this
project.

The student
stayed on task for
and put forth
effort when
working on their
project.

The student was

inconsistent with
staying on task
and putting forth
effort when
working on their
project.

The student did

not stay on task or
put forth any
effort when
working on their
project.

Accommodations:
- Assist students in create a long, even coil.

- The student did

not attempt to
create a clay
cupcake.
- The student did
not attempt to
glaze their
cupcake.
- The student did
not attempt to
write an artist
statement.