Day 6

Pittsburgh GlassCenter

·        Co-Founding Artists of the Pittsburgh Glass Center, Kathleen Mulcahy and Ron Desmett, shared a vision in the early 1990's—to create an innovative glass art center that would transform our city.

·        Today, it is one of the top glass art facilities in the United States helping the city connect to its creative future through the innovative use of glass as art.

Assignment: Think about the terms “blowing glass.”  What do you think it means?

Journal: What is the point of blowing glass in this picture? Is he blowing pretty hard? Why? What would happen if he blew too hard? Think about the young “blower dogs” article that we read off of my blog. Think about younger students then you working long, hot hours in a glass factory. Research what laws came from these labor laws in glass companies.

Day 5

CarnegieMuseums

• The Carnegie Museums of today is a lot different than the Carnegie Museums founded by Pittsburgh industrialist Andrew Carnegie in 1895.
• Today, they are a collection of four creative, inspiring, thought-provoking places of exploration: Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum.

Assignment: Even though Carnegie Museum is in Pittsburgh and not WV…think about how that can affect our state in the glass industry (good/bad).

Journal: What if a compny makes items out of wood. Based off of our unit last year on the different kinds of trees and what wood makes better furniture, knick-knacks…etc.? Keep in mind what part of the Appalachian Mountains Carnegie Museum is located. What if these wood pieces were made right here in Pittsburgh?

StationSquare

• In 1873, the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad (P&LE) was first chartered and in 1877, construction began on a rail line connecting Pittsburgh to Youngstown.
• After 19 years of developing Station Square, the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation sold the property to developer Forest City Enterprises in 1994.
•  In 2002, Forest City completed a 100 room expansion to the Sheraton Hotel and added the Bessemer Court entertainment district.
• Station Square is Pittsburgh’s premier dining and entertainment destination with unique specialty shops.

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  Assignments: Think about how railroads played a part in glass making. We talked about last year how much railroads played a part in the timber industry.
  
  
  Journal: Research how the railroad helped or hindered Pittsburg and the glass making industry.

Day 4

Mosser Glass Inc.

• Thomas Mosser was the starter of Mosser Glass Inc.
• The first production of glass was started in 1959 using chicken wire.
• The company started out making glassware for pharmaceutical companies.
• 1971 was when the Mosser Glass Inc. company gained a name.
• Today they employee over 30 employees.
• It is a family owned company and is sill operate by family today.

Assignment: Think about production of glass in WV. This company is placed in WV. However, their moulds are made in WV. 

Journal: Most of the glass production in the tri-state area (WV, OH, PA) is mainly dependent on WV to make their product. Why is this? WV is usually known for their coal industry. However, in this area...glass is the main production and and tourist attraction. If there are so many glass companies in this area...why do tourist try and hit every company in the area? What makes each company different? Make sure that you look at the pictures and compare and contrast the different areas.

Pictures

Along with my blogs below. Don't forget to check out my pictures. They might help you with some of your assignments. :)

Glass and Ceramics Pictures

Day 3

Homer Laughlin

•  Homer and Shakespeare Laughlin, two brothers from East Liverpool, Ohio, formed a partnership in 1871 to sell pottery ware, which was made in the factories located in their hometown.
•   The Laughlin’s offered to sell the business to Mr. Wells and a financial partner, Louis I. Aaron of Pittsburgh.
• The sale was consummated on December 7, 1897.
• With Fiesta leading the way, The Homer Laughlin China Company continued to flourish until the onset of World War II.
• Homer Laughlin was preparing to enter the new millennium as the industry leader in both the foodservice and retail businesses
• He rebuilt the whole company with new technology and state-of-the-art equipment.
• American-made china and provide jobs for potters of the Ohio Valley.

Assignments: Think about the different jobs that pottery/glass making requires. You can look at my pictures to jog your memory.

Journal: Having all American-made pottery is something to take pride in according to most Americans. What are the perks of having American-made pottery? Compare this to pottery that is made in China or outside of the USA. Please list any websites that you might use to check out other pieces of pottery outside of the USA.

Rock Candy

This is a video from Paul Wissmach Glass Company. View the video and just observe the process.

IMG 0282 from Carla Snell on Vimeo.

Now that you watched the video. List the steps that you saw. You can have as many as you would like...just be thorough. (Example: Step 1- ...., Step 2-....)

After you list the steps that it took for stained glass. Now, list the steps for making rock candy. You may google this information if necessary...but list your sources (websites).

Answer these questions too:
1. How is stained glass and rock candy related?
2. Why do we even need to compare the two?
3. Think about the chemical make-up or recipe for both process...how are they related?

Robin the Spectacular

IMG 0207 from Carla Snell on Vimeo.

This lady named Robin has worked at Fenton Glass for over 30 years. She hand paints everything and is well known in the area for her creative art work.

Students: On this piece right here she is painting an "under the sea" theme with dolphins and such. What is the significance of a hand painted vase versus a vase that was painted by a machine? Why are the prices so different? Also, why is a piece from China much cheaper then a piece made right here in WV?

Day 2

PaulWissmach Glass, Paden City, WV

• On October 13, 1904 the Ohio Valley Glass Company was founded by Paul Wissmach.
• The year 1910 marked an important date in the company's history as it changed its name to The Paul Wissmach Glass Company, Inc.
• A fire in 1927 completely destroyed vital manufacturing and warehouse facilities.
• Throughout the years, Wissmach Glass has built an inventory that includes over 3,000 colors, tints and patterns.
• Today, over 13,000 square feet of glass is produced in Wissmach's manufacturing facility each day. 
• On average, eight to ten different color runs of glass are made daily.

Assignment/Journal: Here is a picture of the ceiling in the White House in Washington, DC. Do you think it says something for our state that we made the glass in the ceiling of the White House? How? Why? Do you think there is a sign to say where the glass is made? If not, should there be? Why? 

Marble KingUSA

• ·        Did you know that over one million marbles a day are produced by a West Virginia company, Marble King themselves.
• ·        They operate seven days a week, three hundred sixty-five days a year.
  ·        Berry Pink and Sellers Peltier founded Marble King in 1949.
  ·        Marble King was originally located in St. Marys, West Virginia. In January of 1958 a fire destroyed the factory. Roger Howdyshell, who managed the Marble King facility, moved the company to Paden City where it still remains today.
  ·        Marble King has been a contributing sponsor and supporter of The National Marble Tournament since 1968.
  ·        A college scholarship is awarded each year at the tournament, compliments of Marble King.
  
  
  Assignment: I am going to give you 20 marbles from Marble King. I want you to separate into categories. Your group  needs to choose the categories. We will talk about the groups that you chose and why you chose them. 

Journal: What all can you use marbles for? (Not just the game.) Once you journal the first question, leave your journals out because we are going to graph a little based off of our categories (circle, line, and bar graphs).

Day 1

GabbertCullet

·        O.J. "Jiggs" Gabbert is the founder of Gabbert Cullet in Williamstown, WV.

·        1987 Jiggs was awarded an honorary life membership in the Glass Art Society for recognition of his contributions to the studio glass movement.

·        Jiggs Gabbert passed away on April 19th 1992.

Assignment/Journal: If you had access to cullet…what would you make? Cullets are broken pieces of glass or waste from a glass piece. As you can see in my pictures, lots of things are created from broken/waste glass. Make sure you explain why you are making this certain piece and why you chose the color, size, texture…etc.

FentonGlass

•   Turning Glass into Fine Art Since 1905
• ·        Fenton Art Glass was founded in 1905 by brothers Frank L. and John W. Fenton.
• ·        By the late 1940s, a new generation of Fentons was running the company. Brothers Frank M. and Wilmer C. (Bill) Fenton would lead the Fenton factory through significant growth for the next 30 years.
• ·        In 1986, George W. Fenton, Frank's son and a third-generation family member, became president of the company.
• ·        Today, eight Fenton family members work together along with over 100 employees in Williamstown, West Virginia, creating new colors, patterns and hand painted decorations that result in handmade glass artistry that is loved by collectors around the world.
• ·        Fenton Family Tree

  Assignment: Fenton Glass makes lots of different pieces of glass (vases, beads, lamp shades, knick-knacks…etc.).  Fenton Glass is located in Williamstown, WV. This means that our state is known for a BIG portion in the advancements of glass. Study my pictures and then look away.

  Journal: Please journal about what the pictures tell you. Write 10+ sentences in your journal about the first thing that comes to your mind when looking at my pictures. Keep in mind that Fenton Glass has been around for over 100 years. I want complete sentences and watch your grammar. Make your sentences detailed! (Bad example: Fenton Glass offers lots of different colors of glass.) (Good example: Fenton Glass offers colored glass and also hand painted glass.)

  

  OglebayGlass Museum

• ·        The Glass Museum features 3,000 examples of Wheeling glass and china made from 1820–1939, including the famous Sweeney Punch Bowl, the largest piece of cut lead glass in the world.
• ·        The museums are located in Oglebay Park, Wheeling
• ·       The mansion was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Assignment/Journal: Again, Oglebay is located in Wheeling, WV. So, this too is part of our history in WV. They are known for their creative art glass pieces. Here you see the gift shop. Why do you think people want to buy glass from WV? What is the significant reasoning? Why certain colors? What piece to buy?

Play-Doh Hatchet

I am reading a novel this year with my class called Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.  I wanted to do a hands-on activity that would go along with thinking about the geography within the novel. I found this website that will help you in drying play-doh the correct way instead of letting it dry and crumble. 

I am going to have the students make what they thought Brian's hatchet looked like while he was stuck out in the wild. After they create their hatchet, we will dry the play-doh following the directions above. 

This will bring in a great opportunity for a lesson on ceramics and how there are different types of clay that can be used.  Not to belittle play-doh but it can be substituted for clay inside the classroom.

       

How far would you go to have a missing part of a bone back?

Ceramic Bones

This article that I came across offers quite a discovery when it comes to the question: What all can we use glass for? You would never think to respond with...bones. However, doctors have discovered that ceramic is non-reactive with the body's chemicals.

Question #1: Why would we need this discovery if our bones heal themselves?
Question #2: Do our bones heal themselves back? Completely?
Question #3: How far would you go to have a normal life back?

As I approach 30 very soon, I look back on some of the injuries that I have had in the past. I was a cheerleader all through school starting in 2nd grade going to 12th grade. It was my life until I was dropped from about 7 feet in the air while my knee completely bent backwards. I was told to keep my knees locked! Anyways...3 years later I decide to visit a doctor to see how much damage I had done and how I shouldn't have waited so long to see a doctor. I had a small surgery after my MRI for the doctor to just scope. He scoped alright...he stuck the scope in and pulled it right back out. Woke me up out of surgery to get my consent with my parents to do a whole knee replacement (the same day). He couldn't believe that I had walked on my knee and cheered for that long. I think it was the only time a doctor has ever said the word stupid towards me.

Two days later I was released from the hospital with a brand new knee. I started therapy and was back to normal within 2 years. Luckily today...I have to think which knee it was that I had surgery on...Dr. Lovejoy is my hero.

So back to the article...I may have not had to go through a completely knee replacement at the age of 16 if this kind of technology would have been around. The doctors can add ceramic to the end of bone to create what has been broken or has deteriorated (in my case). The body automatically starts to adhere to the "new bone" and starts over like new. Pretty amazing!

An answer to the questions above:
1. Not all bones heal themselves. It all depends on the deterioration or break of the bone.

2. Some do, yes. But not all breaks can heal and not all deteriorated bone can heal fast enough.

3. Pretty far...considering my past history with this type of discovery.

Coca-Cola Bottle History

Coca-Cola Bottle History

Check out the link above.
Here is a preview:
1894 - A modest start for a bold idea
1916 - Birth of the contour bottle
1923 – Six packs
1928 – Bottle overtakes fountain
1950 – Media moments
1955 – Packaging innovations
1960 – Trademark no.1
1977 – Trademark no.2
1978 – Recyclable bottles
2000 – Reducing waste
2005 – Aluminium bottles
2009 – Green bottles
2011 – Going green globally
2013 – Your name on our bottles

Cool fun Facts about the Coca-Cola Bottle:
* The contour bottle was inspired by the curves and grooves of a cocoa bean.
* Today, it's one of the most recognized icons in the world - even in the dark.
* Blues players have been known to use necks from Coca-Cola's contour bottles to play slide guitar, coining the term "bottleneck slide."

Students: What are the environmentally friendly things that you can do with a Coca-Cola glass bottle?
Be creative! Think outside the box!!

Blower Dogs

Blower Dogs

Very interesting and informational article about young boys working in glass factories. Some of these boys were working as young as 8 years old. They were referred to as "blower dogs" (cheap labor). These children often came from orphanages and the adult workers would claim them as their own.

Assignment: My students will be expected to put themselves in the "blower dogs" position. I want them to keep a journal about the different jobs they will have, the pay wages, and hard labor. The teacher would have to go into more depth obviously with the job requirements and pay wages. However, I think the students would maybe appreciate their lifestyles that they have now in present day. Excellent article!

The 1st Magnifying Glass

The very first magnifying glass was invented around 1021 by Alhazen, an Arab/Persian scientist and mathematician. Alhazen was very fascinated with the human eye. He wanted to know all he could about what we couldn't see but might be there. Most people have heard of him because he is referred to as" the father of optical science" and was also the first to play with optical illusions.

He also wrote a book called, The Books of Optics. This book detailed how magnification, mirrors, and refraction are related in order to see things that the naked eye can not see alone.

Using the magnifying glass in class (for non-science people):

The lens of a magnifying glass is curved. The distance that the light must travel from the object, through the lens and into the eye of the person viewing it is different for everyone. This is why when seeing something under the magnifying glass it is important to to center the object under the center of the glass (focus). 

Different people looking at the same object will hold the glass at different distances because all of our eyes are unique. Each human eye is unique, and each person must find the correct distance in order for them to see the object in focus.

This would be a great introduction lesson on talking about how many different ways glass is used. Some things that kids like to look at under a microscope or magnifying glass:

cork

panty hose

thin material (silk or satin)
yarn

Srudents Make Their Own Magnifying Glass

The only thing you need for this lesson is: wire, crayons or round sticks, and water.

1. Twist the wire around a pencil or pen to make a small loop. Then remove the pencil from the wire.
2. Dip the loop in water. When you take the wire out of the water, it will create a bubble in between the loop (due to surface tension). You can add a little soap and it will create a tougher film around the loop. The only trick to this is to make sure your loop is small (hint use a pencil).
3. Carefully hold the loop over newspaper and you can see the letters through the water. This will enlarge any print.
4. Let the students play with it. However, only give the students a small piece of newspaper because they might get wet easily.

Background Information:
      Talk about how there are things around us that we can not see, but that doesn't mean that they aren't there. Early humans did not know what bacteria was or a virus. However, people still became sick. The use of hand lenses helped though. This is when lenses were created.
     Early people then started to think about what kind of things they could find when objects were magnified. So, as the art of glass making matured, glass could also be curved just right to make it magnify.