Every year my Ceramics I students make wheel thrown mugs.  I encourage them to create a series of mugs that thematically go together (for example by size, shape, color, texture).  At the very beginning of the unit, before they have had a chance to experience how difficult wheel throwing is, I explain that the minimum number of mugs they need to create is two, but that making more allows them to have more friends over for hot chocolate!  The vast majority of students come away with two completed mugs at the end of six class periods of throwing on the wheel.  A few have three.

This year, I had one student who was much more ambitious…