Deafening, dusty, debris. Such were the working conditions in the 1800s textile industry as portrayed in Katherine Paterson's novel Lyddie. Scholars watch a short video clip about life and work in the mills. Next, they work...

A wonderful and comprehensive look at the first Industrial Revolution. Starting with events, inventions, and changes in thought that occurred in the 1700's, the presentation moves through the technological advancements in industry and...

If ever a person wanted to know about the start, spread, and effects of the Industrial Revolution, now would be the time to ask. Answer questions about facets of the Industrial Revolution in a slideshow format. Each slide contains...

High schoolers explore the development of the textile industry in Great Britain. They link the rapid growth in both the textile industry and in coal mining in Great Britain. Students connect the process of industrialization to the...

Pupils explore the idealistic expectations of the industrialists who financed and built mills in Lowell, Massachusetts. They research how the expectations of Lowell mill founders compared to the reality of life in the textile mills for...

Pupils obtain an understanding of the term "nanotechnology" and how nanotechnology products be used.

Students practice basic sewing techniques constructing a sewing project.

Students research and present reports on 20th century fashions and their influences. After watching a video about fashion, they complete worksheets based on the film. In another activity, students make doll-sized clothing items using...

What are fibersheds and what what do they have to do with environmental protections? A photo essay and audio recordings about Mimi Luebbermann, and her sheep, cause consumers to reflect on how their clothing choices can support local...

A critical discussion regarding the nature of Shinique Smith's second-hand clothing art is the foundation for the lesson. Critical thinkers fully analyze the meaning behind her work, taking close consideration of where the clothing came...

Students are introduced to the connection between women and the textile industry. Using primary source documents, they complete a handout on how gender roles have changed over the years. They examine a sampler which is connected to the...

Learners research and observe the patterns and colors in Asimevo cloh of the Ewe people of Ghana in Africa. They compare the Asimevo cloth to other African textiles, such as Kete, Adinkra, and Kente cloth. They then create visual...

This interactive presentation is a visual delight for young eyes! The title slide allows you to click on one type of material: wood, fabric, plastic, metal, or paper. You are then taken to a slide to consider numerous objects and...

Students use fabric they have created in their quilts. Unlike dyeing and marbling, hand-painting fabric with Setacolor textile paints is not messy, not toxic, and the serendipitous results make every student feel like an artist!

Learners gain practical experience in how sewing factories are run. They experience job possibilities by running a sewing factory simulation.

This lesson addresses proper seam allowances, how those seams should be finished, and the importance of pressing them. Class members learn by listening as well as by practicing and creating their own samples. There are many attachments...

Pick and choose which activities to include in this crime scene investigation. Junior detectives can examine fingerprints, DNA, blood samples, or bone structure.  The plan suggests you have teams solve a mystery, but it does not...

Jeopardy style games are fun ways to help students review for tests or solidify concepts recently covered in class. This Jeopardy game focuses on the industrial economy of New England. Students will need to know general information on...

After looking at some examples of Aztec art and design, learners create some of their own. They use the images in the slideshow as inspiration for the geometric patterns and textures they'll use in their art. 

Twelfth graders examine the labor conditions in different companies and corporations. In groups, they use the internet to locate the conditions of the companies of the clothes they are wearing. They share their information with the...

Students describe Frieze designs using the work of indigenous people.  In this math instructional activity, students create 7 frieze designs using different patterns.  They create one row of repeated art and repeat...

Students examine the development of resist dye techniques in Japan, Indonesia, and West Africa. They discuss textile decorations and patterns, view examples of batik and dye resist art, and create an original resist painting.

Begin this activity by asking third graders to bring from home pieces of cloth that represent something important to them. (Have extras for students who need them.) They reflect on important events in their lives, compose narrative...

Learners examine fabric. For this Applied Science lesson, students look at the fibers of fabric through a microscope. Learners compare and contrast a variety of fibers.