How Clothes Are Made: Language Arts Lesson
Lesson Plan
1 hour 50 minutesGradesK, 1, 2English Language Arts, Visual and Performing Arts
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Written by Lisa Greenwood
About this lesson
Students learn about clothing production and teach others about the process.
Inquire: Students make predictions about clothing production and participate in a read aloud of Where Did My Clothes Come From? by Christine Butterworth to learn about different methods.
Investigate: Students explore clothing production in art centers.
Inspire: Students learn about the resources needed to make clothes and teach others about how their clothes were made.
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Suggestions
- This lesson teaches students where our clothes come from in a hands-on way. Students also learn about the impact clothing production has on our environment.
- Students will understand that clothing production requires a lot of people, time, and resources, which they may not have considered before.
- Students collaborate in discussions with diverse partners as they share what they learned with each other and their school community.
- The preparation in the Inspire section for another class to visit can be completed during another class time; the classroom visit can also be scheduled for a subsequent day.
- Instead of having another class visit, students can do a gallery walk of their work and share what they learned with their community outside of school.
- This lesson can be used during Earth Month in April.
Prerequisites
- Obtain a copy of the book Where Did My Clothes Come From? by Christine Butterworth, Illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti before teaching this lesson. A free e-book is also available here.
- A list of materials to use in the centers is included in the Teacher Document.
- “Ask me about how ____ are made” headband piece templates can be found in the Student Document. Students will need the printed template, construction paper, and tape to make their headbands.
- Teacher will need to coordinate with another teacher to schedule the class visit for the Inspire section.
- This lesson may be taught with the companion lessons Exploring Three Types of Natural Fabric and Measurement Lesson: Sustainable Fabrics.
Differentiation
- This lesson was designed for grades K-2. Differentiation and extension questions and activities are included in the Teacher Document.
- When responding to the interactive read aloud of Where Did My Clothes Come From? students' responses can be shared verbally or written down.
- This lesson can be taught over the course of a few days. See the Teacher Document for an Alternative Pacing Schedule.
- Students can focus on one center activity or rotate through two or three over the course of several days.
- Materials used in the centers can vary. Recycled materials can be used.
- Visual supports are provided for students working at centers.
- When creating notes for the class visit, students can include both pictures and words depending on their needs.
- The student document is differentiated; one pencil ✎ means there is more room for students to draw and ✎✎ means there is more room for students to write.
From the scientist review
This lesson gives a basic understanding of how clothes are created, where they come from, what materials are used in their production, and the difficulties experienced by those who work in the clothing industry. Additionally, it teaches pupils the fundamental techniques for producing textiles including clothing, footwear, and other items. The lesson's content was carefully reviewed, and it passed our science review.
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About the teacher writer
Lisa Greenwood
K-2 Teacher
Lisa Greenwood holds a Master's Degree in Childhood Education from CUNY Hunter College. She has nine years of experience teaching all subjects, including STEM, for grades K–5. Lisa holds New York State Professional Certificates in Childhood Education and Special Education.
