Cleopatra Cushions (Lower Key Stage 2)

Design Brief: Design and make a decorative cushion to be sold in the British Museum Gift Shop.
Strand of Learning: Materials & Textiles
Overview: In this unit children join textile pieces to create both a cushion and a cushion cover. Children investigate different kinds of cushions and their purpose, and they learn that cushions can be designed to provide support and to be decorative. They build on previous learning about the running stitch and different embroidery techniques that are used to decorate fabrics.

They are introduced to the backstitch technique and apply this skill when learning about different textile fastenings and when sewing a button and matching buttonhole.

Using the design brief and specifications, they design a cushion cover based on the iconic image of Queen Cleopatra. They use learnt techniques to make a cushion and a decorative cushion cover following the designs that they made. As part of the evaluation, children create an online shopping page for the cushion product and also present their product in a Dragon’s Den simulation.

Gallery

Images from the Lesson Presentation Slides

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6 x Lesson Presentation Slides
Additional Presentation: Sewing Techniques
Additional Presentation: Decorating Fabrics
PDF Worksheets: Online Shopping Review Sheet

Medium Term Planning includes:

6 x lesson overviews
Vocabulary List
Learning statements linked to Curriculum
Support and Challenge
Assessment - Keeping up with the curriculum

Teaching Pack

Curriculum Scope and Sequence

Substantive & Technical Knowledge

Pupils should know:

The difference between a design brief and design specifications.
There can be a range of people and places that can be clients for a product.
How computer-aided design software can help in the design process.
The properties of materials that they are working with and how these determine the tools and techniques that they use.
Design specifications are a list of success criteria for the product.
The client can be used to evaluate the success of a product.

Materials

That products are made of materials that are chosen because of their properties.

Textiles

That ‘joining technique’ means connecting two pieces of fabrics together and the methods that are permanent or temporary.
A range of joining techniques to connect two pieces of fabrics together such as sewing and gluing.
Joining two edges of fabrics together creates a seam.
A range of sewing techniques (such as a running stitch for making seams and cross stitch for decoration)
Appliqué is a way of decorating textiles by adding smaller pieces of fabric to create a picture or a pattern.

Practical Knowledge (skills)

Pupils should know how to:

Generate ideas for a product, considering its purpose and who the client is.
Design a product that meets client’s needs and the design brief.
List the design features that will appeal to the client.
Use computer software to show what their final product will look like.

Select suitable tools, equipment, materials, and components for the task.
Explain their choices of materials, techniques and tools when making a product.
Measure, mark out, cut and shape materials with increasing accuracy.
Select and apply a finishing technique to create a quality product.
Evaluate their product using a range of sources including client review, peer review, design brief and the design criteria.