In this lesson you will:

• explain what clay is and describe some of its physical and chemical properties. (This is an introduction to Standard 1AV-P1)

Clay is a natural material. It is found all over the world on river and lake banks and, in fact, anywhere that the ancient action of wind, water, ice and the movement of earth's surface have crushed rock and mixed it with silica and alumina along with a variety of minerals and organic materials. Long ago people found that soft damp clay could be shaped by hand into a variety of useful forms that became permanent when placed in a fire for a period of time. This process of turning clay into a permanent ceramic object is called firing. Clays found in different locations may have very different characteristics. They may be different colors, have more or less sand or other gritty material in them, which makes them smoother or rougher textured and can affect the temperature at which they fire. Some clays are sticky and some barely hold together as they are shaped.

Now you should start the homework Assignment 2 and complete Worksheet 2.

Today clay is made from raw chemical materials by ceramic supply companies. These clays are mixed to provide predictable temperatures for firing and predictable colors and textures. Contemporary potters will buy their clay from companies that specialize in mixing clays of different kinds for specific purposes. More information about clay and how to work with it can be found on the following sites: Ceramic King and New Mexico Clay Company Inc. (http://www.nmclay.com/), Tucker's Pottery Supply (http://www.tuckerspottery.com), and Magic of Fire (http://digitalfire.com/education/clay/index.html). On this last site you will find lots of information on various clay tools and kilns.

Brad Sondahl (http://home.earthlink.net/~bsondahl/potterytips.html) has a very complete site with links to do more research on questions you may have about clay and how to use it as an art material.

Now do Assignment 3.