Activity: Exploring Textiles in Food and Fashion

Desired Outcome: Students will enjoy experimenting with a range of textiles while exploring the connection between food and textile technology.

Curriculum Area: Technologies (Food and Textile Technology) Curriculum Level: Early Level (Nursery to P1)

Introduction: 1. Begin the activity by discussing with the students the different types of textiles they are familiar with, such as clothes, blankets, and towels. 2. Introduce the concept of food and textile technology by explaining that textiles can also be used in the food industry, such as in packaging, aprons, and oven mitts.

Activity 1: Fabric Food Collage Objective: To explore different types of textiles and their connection to food.

1. Provide a variety of fabric scraps, such as cotton, silk, and felt, along with glue and a large sheet of paper.
2. Ask the students to think about different types of food and how they can represent them using the fabric scraps.
3. Encourage the students to cut and glue the fabric scraps onto the paper to create a fabric food collage.
4. Once the collages are complete, have a group discussion where each student explains their choices and the connection between the fabric and the food.

Activity 2: Textile Food Packaging Objective: To design and create textile food packaging.

1. Show the students examples of different types of food packaging, such as bags, wrappers, and containers.
2. Discuss the importance of food packaging in keeping food fresh and safe.
3. Provide various materials such as fabric, paper, and tape, along with scissors and markers.
4. Ask the students to design and create their own textile food packaging for a specific food item, such as a sandwich or a piece of fruit.
5. Encourage the students to think about the properties of textiles that would make them suitable for food packaging, such as being waterproof or breathable.
6. Once the packaging is complete, have a group discussion where each student presents their design and explains why they chose certain materials.

Conclusion: 1. Reflect on the activities and discuss what the students enjoyed about experimenting with textiles in the context of food and fashion. 2. Highlight the connection between food and textile technology and how it can be a fun and creative field to explore. 3. Encourage the students to continue exploring textiles in their everyday lives, such as by noticing different types of fabrics in their clothes or household items.