Elementary

The Essential Question
How can we add beauty to a utilitarian object?

Objective
Students will design a functional candlestick holder and make a candle to put in it.

Materials
white clay, colorful glazes, beeswax sheets, wicks, sketchbooks, pencils

Procedures
1. Discuss the roles of candles throughout history (e.g., for light, to celebrate, to mourn). Show students various images of candles, including candlesticks and candlestick holders.
2. Ask students to sketch a design for an inventive and creative candlestick holder. Students can receive feedback from you and their peers before working in clay.
3. Distribute the clay. Have students utilize a variety of handbuilding techniques to create their forms. Demonstrate any techniques if necessary.
4. After the pieces are fired, students apply their glazes and the pieces are fired again.
5. On the day that students are applying their glazes, they will create candles by rolling sheets of beeswax around a wick. Students can add decorative elements to their candles by pressing cut shapes of beeswax in contrasting colors.

Assessment
Did students successfully design an object with both functional and aesthetic value? Did they demonstrate design thinking and problem-solving while keeping their original sketch in mind?

Sue Liedke is an art teacher at Settlement Music School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.