Clay Spark Creative PD for Art Teachers
-
PennOhio Clay Guild
Intended Audience: K-12 Art Teachers
Contact: Michele McCaughtry - ml.mccaughtry@esceasternohio.org
Location: PennOhio Clay Guild, 43 S. Jefferson St., New Castle, PA
Join the PennOhio Clay Guild’s ClaySPARK professional development workshop for a full-day, practical, clay-centered learning experience designed specifically for art teachers. This workshop offers a series of rotating sessions tailored for elementary through high school classroom application. Topics include fundamentals of clay, handbuilding and wheel techniques, surface design, glaze understanding, kiln operations, materials overview, and insights into Raku practices, all with direct classroom relevance and examples. Attendees select their preferred topics and engage in four hands-on, interactive sessions that strengthen confidence, expand technical skills, and inspire curriculum ideas for ceramic art programs of all levels. Whether you’re new to clay or looking to deepen your studio expertise, this will equip you with the tools to elevate your students’ creative experiences.
Available to aligned districts only.
Sessions - when you register you'll be asked to choose your top 5
This workshop offers nine session topics delivered across four one‑hour blocks.
Participants will rank their top five topics and will be scheduled into four of those choices. All sessions include examples and guidance tailored for elementary, middle, and high school classrooms.
Fundamentals of Clay
Focus: Build a solid foundation in clay basics, including major clay types (earthenware, stoneware, porcelain), key stages (greenware, leather‑hard, bisque, glaze‑fired), and how these affect project planning and firing schedules. Gain confidence choosing the right clay for specific assignments and student skill levels.
Who should attend: Teachers new to clay or with limited experience who want stronger core knowledge and practical classroom applications.
--------------------------------
Wheel Throwing – Beginner
Focus: “Try the wheel” introduction to centering and forming simple shapes, with emphasis on safe, realistic strategies for first‑time throwers.
Who should attend: Educators who are brand new to throwing or have very little wheel experience.
--------------------------------
Wheel Throwing – Intermediate
Focus: Build on existing wheel skills with refinement of cylinders, improved control, and strategies for moving toward more complex forms.
Who should attend: Educators who can already throw a basic cylinder and want to progress beyond beginner level.
--------------------------------
Hand Building
Focus: Explore foundational handbuilding techniques—pinch, coil, and slab—plus extensions and variations for more advanced students. Emphasis on handbuilding as an inclusive, highly successful option that often more accessible than wheel work in K–12 settings.
Who should attend: Teachers looking to expand the range and quality of hand-building projects in their curriculum.
--------------------------------
Surface Design
Focus: Demonstrate surface techniques for greenware and bisque, including sgraffito, slip trailing, stenciling, underglaze work, layering, and decals, with adaptations for different grade bands.
Who should attend: Educators seeking deeper guidance on surface options and how to use common tools and materials effectively.
--------------------------------
Glaze Understanding & Application
Focus: Learn to match glazes to clay bodies and firing temperatures, plan and interpret test tiles, and apply glazes successfully while troubleshooting common problems.
Who should attend: Teachers wanting a clearer, more confident grasp of glaze behavior and application methods.
--------------------------------
Kiln Operations / Review
Focus: Review basic kiln types (electric, Raku, gas), safe loading and firing practices, cooling cycles, and simple troubleshooting. Identify key kiln components and basic maintenance tasks appropriate for school settings.
Who should attend: Educators who currently have a kiln or hope to acquire one and want stronger understanding of safe, effective kiln operation.
--------------------------------
Glaze Materials Overview
Focus: Introduce core glaze materials, their roles in simple recipes, and practical approaches to testing and mixing glazes in a school studio.
Who should attend: Teachers with some materials experience who are interested in mixing or modifying glazes in the classroom.
--------------------------------
Raku Overview
Focus: Provide an overview of the Raku firing process, safety considerations, and realistic models for integrating Raku experiences into advanced middle or high school courses.
Who should attend: Educators with some familiarity with Raku or access to Raku opportunities who want to thoughtfully incorporate it into their curriculum.
Suggested Attire:
Wear comfortable, “can‑get‑messy” layers such as jeans or work pants and an old T‑shirt or sweatshirt, with closed‑toed shoes you don’t mind getting dusty.
Bring a coat or extra layer for the outdoor Raku demonstration, and avoid long, loose jewelry or scarves; long hair should be tied back. Aprons will be provided, and lockers are available on site.
Special Workshop Project:
If you’d like to create your own event swag, bring a T‑shirt or sweatshirt to screen print with a fun clay‑themed workshop image; this way you go home with something you like and that fits.
Lunch Meal Option:
Lunch Session will be held in an event room at the restaurant next door.
The cost of the meal is not included in the workshop fee and is pay‑your‑own‑way. You may bring your own lunch.
A menu will be provided, and POCG will take pre‑orders at 9:00 a.m. check‑in so meals are ready for the 12:00 p.m. lunch.
How to get to POCG:
Studio Address: 43 S. Jefferson Street
New Castle, PA
Google Maps Address to Parking Lot:
103 S. Jefferson St (Lot is next to Studio)
About POCG:
Visit our Website: