High School Ceramics Students Help Lincoln School Second Grade Students Make Ghost Lanterns 👻

With Halloween fast approaching, Alexa Johnson’s 19 second graders from Lincoln School enthusiastically crafted ghost lanterns out of clay at Newark High School October 19th with guidance from Katy Broach’s Ceramics 1 and Advanced Ceramics students.

To view the design article, navigate to the following link: https://files.smartsites.parentsquare.com/12545/ghost_lantern_making.pdf

Before the youngsters arrived, Broach demonstrated to her students how to make the lanterns so that when the second graders arrived a few minutes later there would be no guesswork.

She also carefully instructed Johnson’s students on how to safely make the lanterns using carving knives and hole punches that, when done, could be illuminated from the inside with small, battery-operated lights. Instructions were also on a smartboard at the front of the room along with a sample lantern.

Before they began making their lanterns, the second graders developed designs for their ghosts using planning sheets so they would have a pattern to follow as they carved them after rolling out oblong pieces of clay. All with much help from the high schoolers.

Broach circled the room visiting each table where students were fashioning their lanterns lending advice and a helpful hand as needed. Johnson and Superintendent Susan

Hasenauer also watched students make the lanterns that would later been kiln fired by the high school students.

On October 30th, Broach and another group of her students will take the lanterns to Johnson’s Lincoln School classroom and oversee them being painted by the second graders.

For the past few years, Broach has done collaborative projects with second grade classes at Lincoln School, typically geared around holiday or seasonal events. This is the second year she’s worked with Johnson’s students.

“Every year when I ask my high school students if they are interested in working with the 2nd graders, there is an amazingly positive response from numerus students eager to participate,” Broach said. “It has become part of the culture at the high school. The high school art students bring their artistic skills and love for ceramics when instructing the 2nd graders helping them expand their understanding and mentoring a love for art.”

Like 11th grader Isabella Hartgrove, a Ceramics 1 student.

“I appreciated the littles being very cooperative and listening to my directions. They were very fun to work with and I enjoyed their company. They did a very good job making their ghosts!

“It was a great opportunity for the students to interact with the high school students,” Johnson said of her students Oct. 19th glost lantern-making visit to NHS. “They were engaged and so excited to learn about the pottery world.”

One of Johnson’s students, Meilani said, "I enjoyed that I got to see the high schoolers and it was fun to touch and use clay because I never have before."

Another student, Elijah said, "I enjoyed everything about it!"

Mila said, “I enjoyed the high schoolers and playing with the clay!"