Lesson Overview
Students will experiment with different plant materials that are known to be safe ( but definitely NOT any plant that is unfamiliar, or known to have juices/secretions that are rash-causing, such as POISON IVY or POISON OAK). So, adult supervision is absolutely necessary, whether this lesson is done at school or at home.
**The teacher should IMMEDIATELY and SERIOUSLY tell students that no one should ever put any plant into their mouths, whether it's found in the yard, the woods, or other outdoor area. Poisoning could happen! (Of course, we understand that if it's a family or friend's garden, it's very natural to "sample" a bite with permission, when the crops are clean and without pesticide.)
For this lesson, only items that have been purchased at a grocery store will be used for dying experimentation...beets, carrots, yellow onions, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, bananas...and spices of strong color, such as turmeric, cinnamon, paprika, etc.
Essential Question
Students will see a familiar item such as colored cloth, and learn that these colors were not somehow "magically" created; instead, they will learn that dying cloth is an ancient technique, which utilized fruits, vegetables,spices, herbs, and flowers. Especially in earlier centuries, people had to experiment with turning natural fabrics made of sheep's wool, cotton, or linen ( which were mostly yellowish, gray, or off-white) into all colors of the rainbow that they wanted to wear.
This kind of realization enhances creative thinking about SCIENCE, CHEMISTRY, THE ARTS, and the evolution of industries such as textile chemistry, weaving cloth, and fashion design.
Grade(s):
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Chromebook for watching Kristy Bishop's lesson and researching ideas for vegetable, fruit, or spice "plant dyes"
This lesson would be interesting to almost any age group;
HOWEVER, for the actual "making of dyes from natural materials", this must be done under STRICT SUPERVISION FROM A TEACHER OR PARENT.
This is because:
-water must be heated on a stove, etc. and stirred
-cloth, once dyed, must be PULLED OUT OF THE HOT POT, and will be dripping with hot dye water...dangerous for a young student
ALSO REMEMBER:
- Wringing the dye water out of the cloth can STAIN bare hands, clothing, and any fabric that one is wearing; so RUBBER GLOVES may be a good option if hands need to stay clean.
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Log In to View LessonStandards
- Science and Engineering Practices
- 2.S.1 The student will use the science and engineering practices, including the processes and skills of scientific inquiry, to develop understandings of science content.
- 2.S.1A The practices of science and engineering support the development of science concepts, develop the habits of mind that are necessary for scientific thinking, and allow students to engage in science in ways that are similar to those used by scient...
- 2.S.1B Technology is any modification to the natural world created to fulfill the wants and needs of humans. The engineering design process involves a series of iterative steps used to solve a problem and often leads to the development of a new or impr...
- 2.S.1 The student will use the science and engineering practices, including the processes and skills of scientific inquiry, to develop understandings of science content.
- Science and Engineering Practices
- 3.S.1 The student will use the science and engineering practices, including the processes and skills of scientific inquiry, to develop understandings of science content.
- Science and Engineering Practices
- 4.S.1 The student will use the science and engineering practices, including the processes and skills of scientific inquiry, to develop understandings of science content.
- Science and Engineering Practices
- Science and Engineering Practices
- Science and Engineering Practices
- V.C Connecting - I can relate artistic ideas and work with personal meaning and external context.
- VA.C Connecting - I can relate artistic ideas and work with personal meaning and external context.
- VA.C.7 I can relate visual arts ideas to other arts disciplines, content areas, and careers.
- VA.C.6 I can identify and examine the role of visual arts through history and world cultures.
- Ecosystem Dynamics
- Biological Evolution and the Diversity of Life (2005 Standards)
- VA.C Connecting - I can relate artistic ideas and work with personal meaning and external context.
- VA.C Connecting - I can relate artistic ideas and work with personal meaning and external context.
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