Students Participate in Creative PACT Unit
PACT students from four District schools recently visited the Ceramics Center in Cedar Rapids to make their own pots.
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Elementary students from four District schools took part in a shared literature enrichment event in December. The field trip served as a culminating activity for the PACT (Program for Academic and Creative Talent) literature unit, A Single Shard. As part of the unit, students read the Newbery Award winning novel, A Single Shard, by Linda Sue Park.
The enrichment unit was designed to enhance the students' skill development in the areas of vocabulary, grammar, literary analysis, oral communication, and critical thinking. Reading journals, topical research on Medieval Korea and celadon pottery, and group discussions helped to facilitate the learning.
"This extension of the PACT literature curriculum allowed students to have a hands-on pottery learning experience," explained Jill Koch, PACT Resource Specialist. "They watched a professional from the Ceramics Center create several pieces on the wheel much like the book's main character learned the craft in 12th Century Korea. Students then made their own rice bowl using a slab draped over a mold."
Students also participated in a tour of the studio and kiln areas before returning to glaze their pots.
"The students' learning experience and understanding of the literature unit was greatly enhanced by handling, viewing, and creating examples of several vocabulary terms including, shard, celadon, kiln, oxidation, inlaid, glaze, and graffito," Koch added.
Participating elementary schools were Grant Wood, Hiawatha, Johnson, and Viola Gibson. Thirty-three fourth and fifth grade students visited the Ceramic Center. The enrichment trip was funded through a Cedar Rapids Community Schools Foundation Kids in the Community grant.