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Requirements June 1972 until January 2003

1. Explain the properties and ingredients of a good clay body for pottery.

2. Make two drawings of pottery forms. These are to be on paper at least 8 1/2 x 11 inches. One must be a recognized pottery type. The other must be of your own design.

3. Explain the meaning of the following pottery terms: bat, wedging, throwing, leather dry, bone dry, green ware, bisque, terra cotta, grog, slip, earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, pyrometric cone, glaze.

4. Do THREE of the following. Each is to be painted, glazed, or otherwise decorated by you:

(a) Make a flat tray or dish.
(b) Make a box, using the slab method.
(c) Make a vase or jar, using the coil method.
(d) Make four different tiles of your own design.
(e) Make a human or animal figurine or decorative design.
(f) Throw a simple vase on a potter's wheel.
(g) Make a pottery form. Help to fire it.

5. Make a rough drawing of a potter's wheel. Tell how it works.

6. Do ONE of the following:

(a) Explain the scope of the ceramic industry in the United States. Tell some of the things made, other than craft pottery.

(b) Visit a pottery, brickyard, ceramic plant, trade school, or workshop. Take notes on how pottery is made. Describe your visit.

Requirements 2003 until January 2009

1. Explain to your counselor the precautions that must be followed for the safe use and operation of a potter’s tools, equipment, and materials.

2. Explain the properties and ingredients of a good clay body for the following:

(a) Making sculpture
(b) Throwing on the wheel

3. Make two drawings of pottery forms, each on an 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheet of paper. One must be a historical pottery style. The other must be of your own design.

4. Explain the meaning of the following pottery terms: bat, wedging, throwing, leather hard, bone dry, greenware, bisque, terra-cotta, grog, slip, score, earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, pyrometric cone, and glaze.

5. Do THREE of the following. Each is to be painted, glazed, or otherwise decorated by you:

(a) Make a slab pot, a coil pot, and a pinch pot.
(b) Make a human or animal figurine or decorative sculpture.
(c) Throw a functional form on a potter's wheel.
(d) Help to fire a klin.

6. Tell how three different kinds of potter’s wheels work.

7. Visit the kiln yard at a local college, or other crafts school. Learn how the different kinds of kilns work, including low-fire electric, high-fire gas or propane, wood or salt/soda, and raku.

8. Explain the scope of the ceramic industry in the United States. Tell some things made other than craft pottery.

Requirements January 2009 until Current

1. Explain to your counselor the precautions that must be followed for the safe use and operation of a potter’s tools, equipment, and other materials.

2. Do the following:

1. Explain the properties and ingredients of a good clay body for the following:
   1. Making sculpture
   2. Throwing on the wheel
2. Tell how three different kinds of potters wheels work.

3. Make two drawings of pottery forms, each on an 8 ½-by-11 inch sheet of paper. One must be ahistorical pottery style. The other must be of your own design.

4. Explain the meaning of the following pottery terms: bat, wedging, throwing, leather hard, bone dry, green ware, bisque, terra-cotta, grog, slip, score, earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, pyrometric cone, and glaze.

5. Do the following. Each piece is to be painted, glazed, or otherwise decorated by you:

1. Make a slab pot, and coil pot, and a pinch pot.
2. Make a human or animal figurine or decorative sculpture.
3. Throw a functional form on a potter’s wheel.
4. Help to fire a kiln.

6. Explain the scope of the ceramic industry in the United States. Tell some things made other than craft pottery.

7. With your parent’s permission and your counselor’s approval, do one of the following:

1. Visit the kiln yard at your local college or other craft school. Learn how the different kinds of kilns work, including low fire electric, gas or propane high fire, wood or salt/soda, and raku.
2. Visit a museum, art exhibit, art gallery, artists’ co-op, or artist’s studio that features pottery. After your visit, share with your counselor what you have learned.
3. Using resources from the library, magazines, the Internet (with your parent’s permission), and other outlets, learn about the historical and cultural importance of pottery. Share what you discover with your counselor.

8. Find out about career opportunities in pottery. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.