In 1974 well diggers in central China accidentally uncovered part of the tomb of the first emperor of China. Guarding the tomb was an army of life-size clay soldiers, horses, and attendants-at least 7000 of them. Imagine that students of your school have been asked by community leaders to create clay objects. These are to be buried in a time capsule to tell future cultures about our own. Working in small groups, you will create a clay model of a teenager's room. You may use your own room at home or you may invent the room of your dreams. In the room you will include objects that represent the lifestyle of your group.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

You will make and join together clay slabs to create a teen's room. Your model will have a floor and three walls. Furniture and other details will be modeled from clay. In designing your room you must consider the elements of space, shape, form, and texture. Use the principles of proportion and variety to organize the elements.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

• Pencil, notepad, and sheets of sketch paper
• 2 guide sticks, each about 1/2 inch (13 mm) thick
• Newspaper
• Clay
• Rolling pin, needle tool, modeling tools, and ruler
• Sheet of plastic
• Slip (a mixture of water and clay used for joining clay pieces) and container of water
• Scissors and scrap of fabric

WHAT YOU WILL DO

1. On the notepad, list the furniture, objects, and details your room will have. Note also the different shapes, forms, and textures you will use. Make pencil sketches of the room and its contents.
2. Set up the guide sticks 10 inches (25 cm) apart on the sheet of newspaper. Using the slab method, place the clay between these two guide sticks. Flatten the lump with the heel of your hand. Resting a rolling pin on the guide sticks, roll out the clay. This will help keep the thickness of the slab even. Using a ruler and knife or other sharp object, make four rectangles, each measuring 10 × 10 inches (25 × 25 cm). Cover the slabs loosely with the sheet of plastic. Leave out overnight to firm up to the leather hard stage. This is the stage where clay is still damp but too hard to model.
3. The next day, score one of the slabs along three of its edges. This slab is to be the floor. Working a slab at a time, score each of the other slabs along its bottom. Use slip to join the walls to the floor. (For information on joining clay slabs and pieces, see Technique Tip 17, Handbook.)
4. Model the furniture and other objects and details. Use proper joining methods for such tasks as adding legs to chairs. Using slip, attach the furniture and other objects to the floor.
5. When the clay is totally dry, fire the work. Complete your room by adding details-window coverings and a bedspread, for example-cut from the fabric.
6. Display your finished work. Look for similarities and differences between your work and that of other students.

Evaluating Your Work

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