Many students will have little knowledge about or experience with the origin of the textiles (fabrics) used in everyday items of clothing and furnishing. They may not clearly understand the difference between ‘natural fibres’ and ‘synthetic fibres’ or appreciate the different properties of a wide range of fibres.
The focus of this lesson is to spark students’ interest, stimulate their curiosity, raise questions for inquiry and gain an understanding of their existing beliefs about the textiles and fibres they come into contact with every day. These existing ideas can then be taken into account during future lessons.
During this lesson students will have the opportunity to:
- explore and make observations about a range of materials
- discuss the different uses for fabric/textiles (e.g. clothing, bedding and furnishings) and investigate the sources of the textiles used in a range of everyday products (e.g. animals, plants and petrochemicals)
- explore the difference between natural and synthetic fibres
- identify the source of wool.
NOTE: This lesson contains an extension activity:
- class exercise, investigating the difference between 'natural 'and 'synthetic' fibres.
Links to the Australian Curriculum:
- Natural and processed materials have a range of physical properties that can influence their use (ACSSU074)
- Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings using formal and informal representations (ACSIS071)
- Science involves making predictions and describing patterns and relationships (ACSHE061)
