1. Ceramics 101 What is a kiln? By Miss Day Elephant Effigy Bowl produced by student at Price of Peace School, Dallas, Texas.

2. Kiln  A kiln is a special oven or furnace that can reach very high temperatures and is used to bake, or fire clay. Kilns may be electric, gas, or wood- fired. The one pictured here is an electric model. fire clayfire clay

3. Electric Kiln  Here is the kiln with the greenware sitting on top waiting to be fired. The next picture shows the inside of the kiln. The last picture is the kiln after I loaded it with work.

4. Firing the Clay  I fired the clay to a cone 04 -- that is 2008 degrees Fahrenheit.  A cone 04 is called a bisque fire.  I looked in a small vented peep hole in the side of the kiln and everything looked orange.

5. There are many types of kilns  Gas KilnGas Car Kiln, Pit Fire Kiln  Examples of kilns of three kinds: an electric kiln, a gas car kiln, and a traditional Hopi wood bonfire kiln. ( http://www.artlex.com/ ) Examples of kilns of three kinds: an electric kiln, a gas car kiln, and a traditional Hopi wood bonfire kilnhttp://www.artlex.com/ Examples of kilns of three kinds: an electric kiln, a gas car kiln, and a traditional Hopi wood bonfire kilnhttp://www.artlex.com/  To see a raku pit fire on the beach: http://www.claygirl.com/raku.html#G

6. Wood Burning Kiln

7. Potter’s Wheel

8. Jobs for Potters Pottery, Mosaics, Tiles, Bricks, Murals, Dinnerware, Dishes, Lavatory Fixtures, Statues, Garden items, Porcelain Dolls, and Pipes for ground

9. What is Glazing?  glaze - A term used in ceramics to describe a thin coating of minerals which produces a glassy transparent or colored coating on bisque ware. Typically applied either by brushing, dipping, or spraying, it is fixed by firing the bisque ware in a kiln. This makes the surface smooth, shiny, and waterproof. ceramicsdescribetransparentcoloredbisquewarebrushingfixed firingkilnsurfacewaterproofceramicsdescribetransparentcoloredbisquewarebrushingfixed firingkilnsurfacewaterproof

10. To Paint or to Glaze – that is the question.  Many glazes are hazardous or poisonous due to lead content and a special clear glaze must be used to make them food safe.  Glazing bisque ware requires firing the clay a second time. * Watercolor paint on white clay is a beautiful choice!

11. Today:  The clay is breakable! If you drop it -- it will break! It is ceramic, just like dishes at home.  We are going to paint our bisque ware (clay fired once). We will use glazes set up at stations.  You must not mix the paint brushes or you will contaminate the glaze.  Only 2 people at a station at a time.  Brush the glaze on the pot, but NOT ON THE BOTTOM of the pot.  The glaze is like glue and it will stick to the kiln if there is clay on the bottom of the pots!

12. Resources  http://www.ceramicsculpture.com/Pages- Callas/CallasMain.htm http://www.ceramicsculpture.com/Pages- Callas/CallasMain.htm http://www.ceramicsculpture.com/Pages- Callas/CallasMain.htm  http://www.aquariusartgallery.com/fergyartistkilnp ics.htm http://www.aquariusartgallery.com/fergyartistkilnp ics.htm http://www.aquariusartgallery.com/fergyartistkilnp ics.htm  http://potterswheelny.com/html/classes.html http://potterswheelny.com/html/classes.html  http://www.bisonhome.com/bison%20dining%20 &%20entertaining.htm http://www.bisonhome.com/bison%20dining%20 &%20entertaining.htm http://www.bisonhome.com/bison%20dining%20 &%20entertaining.htm  http://www.artsconnected.org/artsnetmn/identity/t alking_rocks/halves.html http://www.artsconnected.org/artsnetmn/identity/t alking_rocks/halves.html http://www.artsconnected.org/artsnetmn/identity/t alking_rocks/halves.html  http://www.asij.ac.jp/highschool/academic/art/jtho mas/ceramics_eggcups_goblets_page.htm http://www.asij.ac.jp/highschool/academic/art/jtho mas/ceramics_eggcups_goblets_page.htm http://www.asij.ac.jp/highschool/academic/art/jtho mas/ceramics_eggcups_goblets_page.htm  http://www.rochesterschools.com/rms/art/poliquin _art.htm great examples of middle school work http://www.rochesterschools.com/rms/art/poliquin _art.htm http://www.rochesterschools.com/rms/art/poliquin _art.htm