Scouting America

Pottery Merit Badge

Pottery
Merit Badge

Scouting America Merit Badge Hub

Scouting America
Merit Badge Hub

Pottery

Pottery Merit Badge Overview

The Pottery merit badge provides an introduction to pottery making, enabling Scouts to gain skill and understanding from actually creating pottery. Completing the requirements will include hands-on production of a work of art, from start to finish.
Pottery_merit-badge-overview

Pottery Merit Badge Requirements

The previous version of the Merit Badge requirements can be found in Scoutbook

The requirements will be fed dynamically using the scout book integration
NOTE: The official merit badge pamphlets are now free and downloadable HERE or can be purchased at the Scout Shop.
1. Explain to your counselor the precautions that must be followed for the safe use and operation of a potter's tools, equipment, and other materials.
Resource: 6 Steps to a Safe Pottery Studio (video)
2. Do the following:

3. Make two drawings of pottery forms, each on an 8½-by-11-inch sheet of paper. One must be a historical pottery style. The other must be of your own design.
Resource: Ancient Greek Pottery Shapes: The Pure and Useful Forms of Greek Vases (website)
4. Explain the meaning of the following pottery terms: bat, wedging, throwing, leather hard, bone dry, greenware, bisque, terra-cotta, grog, slip, score, earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, pyrometric cone, and glaze.
Resources: Ceramics 101: Clay Vocabulary and Processes (video)
Ceramic and Pottery Glossary (website)
5. Do the following: Each piece is to be painted, glazed, or otherwise decorated by you.

6. Explain the scope of the ceramic industry in the United States. Tell some things made other than craft pottery.
Resource: What Are Ceramics? (website)
7. With your parent or guardian's permission and your counselor's approval, do ONE of the following:

8. Find out about career opportunities in pottery. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.
Resources: Dream Jobs - Potter (video)
Jobs for Potters (website)

Get the Pottery Merit Badge Pamphlet

Merit Badge Pamphlets are now free and publicly available. Note: Always check www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/all/ for the latest requirements.

View Related Merit Badges

Art

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