[image] 1

Fabric Art
Creator Margaret Atkinson
Date Created March 2006
Grade 6
Subject Science
Topic Vertebrates and Invertebrates
Description
An exploration of the diversity of life through the creation of fabric motifs of vertebrates
and invertebrates.
Curricular Expectations
Please see the lesson plan preview for the expectations/outcomes for your province.
Materials
" Reference books for research about animals: sea creatures, simple animals, mammals, marsupials,
crustaceans, amphibians, etc
" Books about fabric art or using fabric as illustrations: Amish quilting, cave paintings that indicate a
fabric look, traditional fabric arts from a variety of cultures, etc
" Sheets of manila paper to be used for initial design
" Coloured pencils, crayons, markers to design colour scheme
" Many and varied fabric pieces, any colour or size, textured, smooth, furry, patterned, plain etc.
" Several bottles of fabric glue
" Several bottles of fabric paint
" Felt in a variety of colours
" Embroidery thread
" Interesting additions such as beads, lace, buttons, trim etc.
" Glue gun for use by adult only
Space Requirements
Classroom
Prior to Art Lesson
" Prior to fabric art lesson students will have researched and discussed the differences between
vertebrates and invertebrates
" They will have classified and listed many animals under the headings:
Vertebrates: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals
Invertebrates: sponges, worms, molluscs, arthropods
" They will have divided into groups of vertebrates and invertebrates
1



[image] 2

" They will each have chosen a different creature under the subgroups and completed a short
research project on that animal
Getting Ready
" Briefly discuss the use of fabric in art
" Show a variety of fabric art from countries across the globe
Development
" Discuss the theme of vertebrates and invertebrates as it relates to the fabric arts
" Show an example of the kind of fabric piece the students will be creating
" Discuss the use of colour, texture, pattern, and found objects in relation to the animals that the
students have chosen to research
" Relate these to the habitats of each animal
" Discuss different colours, textures, patterns of fabric and found objects and which animals they
may suggest to the students
Please take a moment to review the
“Creating a Pattern Piece” video
Application
" Using manila paper, students will design a template-style drawing of their chosen animal in its
habitat
" When the design is complete students will choose a colour scheme for their design and roughly
colour it in
" Students will also choose background colours and glue them in place
Please take a moment to review the
“Creating the Background” video
" Students will use this template to execute their fabric art
" They may cut the template into “pattern pieces” to be traced onto fabric or they may choose to cut
the fabric freehand
" Students will use fabric glue for most of the design. The glue gun will only be used by an adult to
adhere heavier items. Note that this is a temporary glue and should be used in conjunction with
fabric glue
" Students may wish to embellish their designs with fabric paint, embroidery thread or any of the
found objects in order to give more texture to the artwork.
Please take a moment to review the
“Completing the Fabric Art” video
2



[image] 3

Closure
" Share vertebrate and invertebrate designs with the whole class or in small groups
" Ask students to reflect on the process, the vocabulary necessary to create the design, and feelings
that each design evokes
" Display
Please take a moment to review the
“Analyzing the Fabric Art” video
Extension
" Review the forms of haiku, cinquain or another form of poetry and write a poem about the animal
" Display the poem with the design
3