PERFORMANCE ITEM: Example

Performance-based type of assessment
Learning Target
Students should be able to create an Oaxacan-style clay animal sculpture for a performance type of assessment item based on the following criteria:

  1. Create an animal drawing using the Oaxacan style for inspiration
  2. Emphasize parts of the animal by exaggerating features that make it special
  3. Use the pinching method to create the animal body
  4. Use the coiling method to create legs, tails, or tentacles
  5. Use scoring, slipping, and smoothing to join animal parts together
  6. Clay animal sculpture closely follows the drawing
  7. Inscribe their first name and the first letter of their last name on the bottom of the clay project
  8. Completely cover the animal with a base color (except for the parts that rest on a surface, such as the bottom of the feet, or areas of broken pieces to be glued together)
  9. Use 2–4 additional colors to decorate the animal
  10. Create an organized pattern design using repeating lines and/or shapes
  11. Decorative pattern establishes a strong contrast with the base color
  12. Fill out a label for the project, and then attach the label to the bottom with tape
  13. Follow all instructions given by teacher
Grade Level and Subject
5th Grade Visual Arts

Task
You are a Zapotec folk artist living in the Oaxacan Valley in the southern part of Mexico. You earn money to feed your family by designing, sculpting, and decorating animal figures for the tourist trade. Create one of these bright and colorful Oaxacan style animal sculptures from clay.

    Step 1

    Choose a type of animal, decide on a pose for your animal, and make a drawing of your concept on paper provided by the teacher. As you draw, be sure to emphasize parts of your animal by exaggerating features that make it special. For example, a rabbit might have large, elongated ears. An armadillo might have an elongated tail and snout. A turtle might have a large round shell (Time allowed: approximately 2 class periods).

    Step 2

    Create a three-dimensional clay sculpture that closely follows your sketch. Shape your animal’s body using the pinching method. Make parts such as legs, tails, or tentacles using the coiling method. Join parts together by scoring, slipping, and smoothing. Be sure to inscribe your first name and the first letter of your last name on the bottom of your project (Time allowed: approximately 2 class periods).

    First firing

    After you have finished sculpting your animal, it will be bisque fired, and then returned to you

    Step 3

    Now you will use acrylic paint to brush on the base color. Choose either a very light/bright or a very dark color. Remember to paint any pieces that have broken off of your animal during firing; the teacher will glue these on later. Your base color should completely cover the animal; there should be no white clay showing when you are finished! The only exception to this is for areas that will contact a surface, such as the bottoms of the feet and areas of broken pieces to be joined together with glue (Time allowed: approximately 1 class period).

    Step 4

    After your base color has dried completely, choose 2–4 additional colors to decorate your animal with an organized pattern design. A pattern does not mean random dots of color! Organize and repeat lines and/or shapes to create an interesting design. Also, it is important that the colors you choose for your decorative pattern establish a strong contrast with the base color (Time allowed: approximately 2 class periods).

    Second firing

    After you have finished painting your animal with your decorative pattern, it will be fired for the second and final time, and then returned to you.

    Step 5

    Fill out a label for your project, and then attach the label to the bottom with tape. Now submit your finished Oaxacan style animal sculpture to the teacher for grading and display (Time allowed: approximately 10 minutes).


Important
Be sure to follow all instructions given by the teacher. A portion of your project grade will be determined by how well you can follow instructions.

Time limit:

Approximately 7 forty-minute class periods

Total points possible:

13


Analytic Scoring Guide


Criterion


Uncompleted


Completed


Points

 

0

1

 

Create an animal drawing using the Oaxacan style for inspiration

No

Yes

 

Emphasize parts of your animal by exaggerating features that make it special

No

Yes

 

Use the pinching method to create your animal body

No

Yes

 

Use the coiling method to create legs, tails, or tentacles

No

Yes

 

Use scoring, slipping, and smoothing to join parts of your animal together

No

Yes

 

Clay animal closely follows your drawing

No

Yes

 

Inscribe your first name and the first letter of your last name on the bottom of your project

No

Yes

 

Completely cover your animal with the base color (except for the parts that rest on a surface, such as the bottom of the feet, or areas of broken pieces to be glued together)

No

Yes

 

Use 4 additional colors to decorate your animal

No

Yes

 

Create an organized pattern design using repeating lines and/or shapes

No

Yes

 

Decorative pattern establishes a strong contrast with the base color

No

Yes

 

Fill out a label for your project, and then attach the label to the bottom with tape

No

Yes

 

Follow all instructions given by teacher

No

Yes

 

                        TOTAL
POINTS