This week, I continued working on developing my set of activities. One idea on worked through was a fiber identification activity. In it, the students would be given several different fiber types (such as cotton, wool, silk, polyester, and more) and be asked to make observations about their properties. They would also have a chance to observe them under a microscope and perform a burn test. However, because of the potential risks associated with burning and the activity’s lack of engagement, the idea was scrapped.
As my human loom allowed students to learn about the formation of woven fabrics, I also decided to create an activity centered on knitting. The first portion would be a demonstration, in which I would secure various knit textiles and garments to the end of a flashlight, and shine it through a magnifying glass at a wall. This would display a blown up view of the knit structure for the students to observe. In the second half, students would be shown how to finger knit , and allowed to make themselves bracelets or headbands. I made a sample knit as a proof of concept, shown below. This process would both emphasize the production process of knitting, as well as grating them a physical textile to manipulate.
The final activity I developed is centered around polymers, specifically elastomers. The students would first make their own polymer, a plastic, by mixing water, Elmer’s glue, and Epsom salts. This produces a slime-like plastic with high elasticity. They will be able to play with this material and learn more about its properties. In the second half of this activity, the students will be given a large sewn tube of highly elastic Lycra fabric. They will place their backs to the inside of the tube, and stretch it as far as possible. They will also be able to test the fabric’s strength by sitting on it, and run back and forth to test its elasticity. Overall, this activity aims to give students a holistic look at polymers, from their synthesis to end use and properties.