Learn about science in everyday life, both past and present with an interactive tour and a hands-on workshop about Clothing in the Past.
Level: 5th and 6th Class
Group Size: 15
Location: Galleries and Activity Room
Duration: 2.5 hours
Times: 10 to 11am, 30-minute, 11.30am to 12.30pm
Curriculum Links: SESE: Science, History, Geography
Learning Outcomes:
Tour: Natural materials and how clothes were made. Focusing on the ‘Aran Islands Clothing’ and ‘Clothing the Family’ sections of the galleries, particular attention is drawn to the clothing styles, the raw materials and the processes and techniques involved in making the clothes
Activity (Materials and Change: Wool Processing): The group is shown fleece in its raw state, how to card raw fleece and how to use a drop spindle. The group will be given an opportunity to use the carders and drop spindle.
Workshop: Dyeing experiment with red cabbage to provide an introduction to clothing in the past and the processes involved in dyeing, natural and chemical dyes.
Experiment: Part 1 - Dyeing material using red cabbage; Part 2 - Using left over cabbage water as an indicator for acids and alkalis.
Resources and Suggestions:
Tour and Workshop Description (202KB, Adobe .pdf)
Glossary and Wool Dyeing with Onion Skins (153KB, Adobe .pdf)