FUNCTIONAL TWELVE PIECE CHECKERS

Functional Twelve Piece Checkers

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Functional Twelve Piece Checkers using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use complimentary colors (red, green; blue, orange; purple, yellow), form (two-dimensional, three-dimensional), and space (positive, negative) inspired by Mastering Creativity: Break Through Your Mental Blocks, Uncover Your Hidden Creative Genius, and Make Brilliance A Habit by James Clear
• Use ceramic techniques (slab method, coil method, sphere method) and design principles (movement, repetition, proportion) based on Functional Art
• Define Fair Play (respect for rules or equal treatment of everyone)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Children's Games (1560) Pieter Bruegel
2. Mastering Creativity: Break Through Your Mental Blocks, Uncover your hidden creative genius, and make brilliance a Habit by James Clear
3. Reflective Discussion "The game checkers is called "draughts" in many countries. It comes from an old game called Albuquerque. In 1535, the rule that you had to jump when presented with a jump opportunity was added to the game. Chess can be played on the same game board as checkers. The game Chinese Checkers has very little to do with checkers and was invented by the Germans, not Chinese. There are lots of different variants of checkers including a version that is played on a 10X10 board with 20 pieces per player."

Lesson Activities

1. Use grid paper to add line types (horizontal, vertical) to draw the checkerboard for the Functional Twelve Piece Checkers
2. Use complimentary colors (red, green; blue, orange; yellow, purple) to fill in the positive space of the checkerboard of the Checker Set
3. Use complimentary colors (red, green; blue, orange; yellow, purple) to fill in the negative space of the checkerboard of the Checker Set

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Functional Twelve Piece Checkers for Assigned Table
2.  Pianist and Checker Players (1924) Henri Matisse
3. Discussion Questions "How do you play? Where was this game invented? Why do some checkerboards have decorations and some do not? Which games have you played? Have you ever played checkers? Who have you played checkers with? How would your arms look in this artwork? How would your legs look in this artwork? How would your hair look when you are playing a game? Are th clay figures sturdy and viewable from all sides? Is the clay carefully covered with under-glazes including stands? Can you make a repeating pattern?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use modeling tools (wooden chips, shells, pencils, stamps) to design the twelve pieces of the Checker Set
2. Add embellishments (glitter, sequins, small beads, yarn, charms) to design of the twelve pieces of the Checker Set
3. Add patterns (swirls, dots, stripes) to the positive space (top) of the twelve piece designs of the Functional Twelve Piece Checkers

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Functional Twelve Piece Checkers for Assigned Table
2. Set Up Studio Area (place mats, paint brushes, glaze)

Lesson Activities

1. Use complimentary colors (red, green; blue, orange; yellow, purple) to fill in the positive space (twelve pieces) of the Checker Set
2. Use complimentary colors (red, green; blue, orange; yellow, purple) to fill in the negative space (twelve pieces) of the Checker Set
3. Apply gloss finish to the Twelve Pieces of the Functional Twelve Piece Checkers

Artist Examples

Student Examples