COTTON - from field to fabric

Investigating Materials

ART AND DESIGN
PROGRAMME

MONDAYS ONLY
from January 2003

Available for Key Stage 1 or 2 children

This is an exciting day programme of activities to find out how the seed heads of the cotton plants are used to make fabric. The activities will include carding, spinning and weaving to make fabric and to introduce colour and pattern, batik, tie-dye and block printing. A carousel of activities will take place in the various rooms of the centre and the exhibition will be used to give some of the historical developments that transformed the textile industry from one that was carried out from home to that of the factory system. Weather permitting we will end the day with a walk in the Torrs to see the remains of the cotton mills standing by the river.

There is a charge of £4.50 per head [accompanying adults free, ratio 1:6] which includes our normal day rate of £3.50 plus £1 to cover some of our costs for materials. Children will be able to take away their finished items.

9.30/10.00 Introduction
Adding colour and pattern to cloth
Using the methods:-
[a] batik [b] tie-dye [c] block printing [d] weaving with thread
[e] paper weaving
5 workshops - every child will spend some time at each workshop

10.30/11.00 Break - a drink and a biscuit will be provided

12.00 Lunch. Please bring a packed lunch, which can be eaten in the centre

12.30/1.00 Making fabric
This session will start with a slide show to explain how cloth is made from the fibres of the cotton plant. Then the children will try their hand at combing the cotton fibres and spinning thread.

2.00ish Walk in the Torrs to see the remains of the cotton mills.

By now the material from the morning session should be dry enough to take back to school.

2.30/3.00 Leave

All art material and activity sheets will be provided and Jane Featherstone will lead the activities during the day.

All adults will be asked to be actively involved with the children.

Children will be given aprons to wear but it would be advisable to ask families to send their children in working or play clothes.