6th Grade Face Jugs

                                                 (Congo jugs)

In 6th Grade we are starting the Face jug project. It is an annual tradition and it works well with the year long study of Asheville and the Appalachian culture in other subject areas. There are many stories about why face jugs are made but it seems most of them are folklore at best. But I do love sharing a few of them with the students. It seems especially important and somewhat of a coincidence that we start the project during Black History Month. Many people believe that face jugs were first started in this country by African Slaves. For more info you should check out these links.

http://river.chattanoogastate.edu/orientations/ex-learn-obj/Face_Jugs/Face_Jugs_print.html 

https://www.saskcraftcouncil.org/the-history-of-ugly-face-jugs/

This project usually takes 2-3 months. the first day we go over "Jobs and Responsibilities" and the 2nd class is a test where they come in and practice their jobs and build a small pot. This helps them know what is expected each day and helps me know who is going to need help in various areas of building a "Jug" with a "Face" out of clay.

The Objectives: 

1. To make a jug at least 8 inches high, with a handle and a "face"
2. The ceramic jug stands up and stays up, is neat, smooth where it needs to be smooth, and nothing falls off.
3. Contrast, good use of color, and or neatness with glazing

The Responsibilities:

Helping to set up, doing your job to help have the maximum amount of class time to work on clay and helping clear and sponge the tables at clean up.






(more Congo Porch Jugs)

The Jobs:

Clay:  Setting the clay out for beginning of class, and putting clay away at the end of class.

Boards; Putting boards on tables at the start of class, and stacking boards up at the end of class.

Tools; Make sure the tools are organized and put away in the right place during and at the end of class

Cart; Pulling cart out, pulling slab rolling table out, and carefully getting projects from kiln room

The "Mad" Spongers; preparing sponges for the sponging of the tables.

Let the fun begin!

https://youtu.be/zACeC2GDCFE