Ancient Dress For Success

Ancient Dress For Success lesson plan

Explore cultures through clothing, using a variety of Crayola® Erasable Colored Pencils and construction paper to make 3-D models of hats, garments, and accessories worn by various peoples of the world.

  • 1.

    On white paper, design 3-dimensional patterns for ancient people's clothing and accessories using Crayola Colored Pencils. Cut out the patterns with Crayola Scissors.

  • 2.

    Trace the patterns on colored construction paper with the colored pencils. Cut these out and fold pieces as necessary.

  • 3.

    Add color, texture, and detail to the clothing with different Crayola Colored Pencils. For shiny effects, such as for armor, use Crayola Metallic Colored Pencils.

  • 4.

    Glue clothing pieces together as needed with Crayola School Glue.

Benefits

  • Students research the environment (climate, vegetation, animals) and customs (language, technology) of people living in a culture during a specific time period.
  • Using these findings, students design and create authentic clothing and accessories depicting those worn by people in that culture and time period.
  • Students summarize their findings, and describe why they chose their garment designs and materials, in a written or oral report.

Adaptations

  • For early readers, find books with pictures of traditional and contemporary clothing. Encourage young children to draw their impressions with Crayola Write Start Colored Pencils.
  • Offer computer design programs for young and special education students who are still developing finger and hand control.
  • Older students could create imaginary labels (fabric content, size, laundering instructions), safety warnings (for their garments). Encourage them to use the written language that people in the culture used, or design pictorial symbols to convey the message if writing had not yet been invented.
  • Encourage students to choose an ethnic group from their own heritage. Broaden children's understandings by considering foods, music, homes, and other elements of the culture. Invite families and others in the community to share their knowledge and artifacts.