Pottery Fundamentals: The Classroom-Ready Throwing-to-Glazing Curriculum

What you'll be able to do

• Center, open, and pull a cylinder with consistent wall thickness using repeatable hand positions suitable for teaching 25+ students at once
• Trim and finish a foot that sits flat and balanced, diagnosing and fixing wobble, cracking, and uneven thickness
• Apply at least two surface decoration techniques (mishima inlay and Cricut-cut stencil/slip work) to personalize functional ware
• Mix, test, and record glaze results using a test-tile log to predict how a glaze will behave before committing a full piece
• Set up and run a safe, budget-conscious classroom pottery station, including wheel selection, work surfaces, and clay recycling
• Read and execute a basic kiln firing schedule, including the difference between bisque and glaze firing, with core safety checkpoints

What's inside

8 modules, in order, from the first step to the finished result.

• 01

  Unit 1: Setting Up a Classroom-Ready Pottery Studio

  Covers choosing and arranging budget-friendly equipment so a classroom of students can throw, trim, and clean up efficiently without damaging gear or floors.

  Evaluating budget pottery wheels for classroom durabilitySetting up a durable work surface (Formica-style tabletop)Organizing a shared clay recycling and wedging stationCompressor and spray booth basics for slip/glaze work
• 02

  Unit 2: Centering and Opening Clay

  Breaks down the centering-to-opening sequence into teachable checkpoints students can self-assess against before moving to pulling walls.

  Body and shoulder positioning for leverageDiagnosing an off-center cone (wobble troubleshooting)Opening the clay without collapsing the baseSetting consistent floor thickness
• 03

  Unit 3: Pulling Walls and Shaping Forms

  Teaches the pull sequence used to turn a centered cylinder into functional forms like mugs and small bowls, including mini-pot variations.

  Compression and pulling technique for even wallsShaping cylinders into mugs vs. open bowl formsScaling technique down for mini pots and accentsAttaching handles without weak points
• 04

  Unit 4: Trimming and Foot Design

  Covers trimming a piece to proper thickness and designing a stable, finished foot ring, a step students often rush or skip.

  Judging correct leather-hard timing for trimmingCentering a piece on the wheel for trimmingCarving a balanced foot ringFixing uneven walls discovered during trimming
• 05

  Unit 5: Surface Decoration Techniques

  Introduces two signature decoration methods — mishima inlay and Cricut-cut stencil decoration — as accessible ways for students to personalize work.

  Carving and inlaying slip for mishima designsTiming mishima work to clay hardnessCutting and applying Cricut stencils without vinyl residueLayering slip colors for contrast
• 06

  Unit 6: Glaze Application and Testing

  Walks through building a glaze testing habit using test tiles and spraying techniques, including troubleshooting an unpredictable glaze.

  Reading and recording test tile resultsSpraying flashing slips and glazes evenlyDiagnosing a glaze that runs or behaves unpredictablyLayering glazes for soda/flashing effects
• 07

  Unit 7: Firing Fundamentals and Kiln Safety

  Explains the bisque-to-glaze firing process and core safety practices, framed around real decisions like converting and loading a kiln.

  Difference between bisque and glaze firing cyclesLoading a kiln to avoid shelf and glaze damageReading cone placement for firing accuracyBasic safety protocols for electric and gas kilns
• 08

  Unit 8: Final Project, Critique, and Certification

  Guides students through completing a final glazed piece, running a structured critique, and issuing a printable completion certificate.

  Structuring a final piece that combines throwing, trimming, and decorationRunning a peer critique sessionSelf-evaluating against the course rubricDocumenting finished work for a portfolio