History is Exciting with "MIX, MOLD, FIRE!"
"Mix, Mold, Fire!" provides an engaging way for students of all ages to explore historical concepts. The comic, selected vocabulary, and creative resources are shared through this website to support the use of comics in educational contexts. Explore even more with an Activity Box:
ACTIVITY BOX from Project CLAY: Creative Learning through Archaeology
Abby the Apprentice is partnering with Project CLAY! Artist Kristin Donner and archaeologist Laura Harrison are developing a plug-and-play Activity Box which uses innovative technology to bring archaeology to life. Each box contains four lessons which correlate with state Learning and Content Standards for the sixth grade. Our multi-media presentations and hands-on activities engage and inspire! Here's what students have to say:
One of my favorite parts about the program was the clay-modeling part because we were allowed to be creative and the molding was very fun but still challenging.
Kaiyo, Sixth Grade Student
U.S.A.
One of my favorite parts was drawing the bowls. It made me take the time to pay attention to details...
Mazel, Sixth Grade Student
U.S.A.
It’s not only the technology that inspires me, it is the places you get to go and what you get to do. Being an archaeologist, you get to learn more and have fun while doing your job.
John, Sixth Grade Student
U.S.A.
Image: Kristin Donner (left) and Laura K. Harrison (right) presenting their scientific poster and 3D printed replica artifacts at the Drawing on the Past conference in London, U.K.
MEET THE ARTIST & THE ARCHAEOLOGIST
Contact us to schedule a school visit or special event!
Backstory: In the Trenches
Artist Kristin Donner and archaeologist Laura K. Harrison met in the summer of 2014, as they excavated, studied, catalogued, and illustrated the archaeological site of Seyitömer Höyük. The following summer, the pair returned to Anatolia to form the Seyitömer Illustration Project, with the goal of creating international educational outreach materials inspired by the site. They explored museum collections and university resources, consulted with local educators, archaeologists, and craftspeople, and formed lasting friendships. Harrison authored her dissertation, which explores how Seyitömer's urban architecture influenced social interactions in the Early Bronze Age. Donner created multiple series of illustrations, which reconstruct Seyitömer's architecture, artifacts, and pottery production pipeline. To populate that pipeline, Donner began designing characters inspired by Seyitömer's original inhabitants. She sketched the first Abby designs in 2015, and completed the "Mix, Mold, Fire!" comic in 2018.
The comic inspired a scientific poster presented to the Society for American Archaeology (Washington, D.C., U.S.A.) and the Drawing on the Past conference (London, U.K.) before becoming the jumping off point for school lessons (pre-school to sixth grade). In 2022, the pair co-authored a book chapter, which highlights their educational outreach initiatives and discusses the merits of using comics in education. Donner and Harrison are still working together (although no longer in the trenches) on their exciting new endeavor, Project CLAY. Contact us to learn more!