This activity challenges you to use what you learned in this lesson as you reflect on your own responses to ceramic artworks introduced in the lesson.

Take a look at the five ceramic vessels below.
Which appeals to you the most?
Which is your least favorite?

Your answers to these questions are your preferences.
Why do you suppose you like one more than others?
Have you seen others like this one?
Do any pieces remind you of something you enjoy or dislike?
What events or experiences in your life might have influenced you to like this work the most?

Now consider your judgments.
Look again at the pieces above and choose one you think is excellent. You need to focus on the piece itself and not so much on your personal feelings. The piece you judge to be excellent may be the one you like the most -- or it may be a different piece.

This is your judgment.

Judgments are based on criteria (general ideas, rules, or standards). When you explain your judgment, you should be able to tell what criterion (or criteria) you are using and how the piece meets that criterion (or those criteria). When you support your judgment with criteria you help others see what you discover to be good about something.

Click to review just some of the many criteria people sometimes use to judge excellence in ceramics. Explain how the piece you think is excellent meets one or more of these or other criteria.

Unless you are already an expert in ceramics, you may not yet know enough to apply some of these criteria, such as craftsmanship, technical innovation, originality, cultural pride, or spirituality. If you are familiar with the criteria you selected, where did you first learn about each criterion? For example, did a teacher, friend, or family member introduce it? Did you learn about it on TV, a book, or movie? Does it come from a religious or cultural tradition? Did you develop the criterion from your own viewing or making of art? Did you learn about it in an art class?

Checklist
Your teacher will ask you either to write or talk together about your preferences and judgments. You should include in your writing or in your discussion all the items listed below.

1. I identified my preferences, that is, I identified the artwork I like the most.
2. I explained specifically what I like about the piece.
3. I identified what has happened in my past that may have influenced my preference.
4. I identified one piece I think is excellent.
5. I identified at least one criterion on which I based my judgment.
6. I explain how the piece meets that criterion well.
7. I discussed how I learned about that criterion.

Begin the track assigned by your teacher:

Inquiry Track  /  Celebration Track  /  Mathematics Track

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