This activity, for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, looks at textiles in fashion design. It provides an opportunity for students to increase their knowledge and understanding of a circular economy approach to developing textiles products and how textile companies are applying this approach to developing new products...

In this project, students investigate and compare the waterproof and breathability properties of a range of fabrics used in clothing designed for sailing. They will find out about the different fabrics used in wet weather sailing gear. In particular, how breathable waterproofs work and what advantages and...

In this project, students test the strength of samples from different items of clothing to find out which material is the strongest.  One way to see which material is strongest would be to hang weights from it until it breaks, with the one that holds the most weight being the strongest. 

In this resource, students design a new glove for use in a sport of their choice. Students may find it helpful to talk with local people who partake in their chosen sport. The P.E. Department may be able to suggest suitable contacts.

A selection of tests, activities and factsheets are available for the...

One of the trial units from the Nuffield Primary Solutions in Design and Technology. In this unit, children work co-operatively to produce a large weaving suitable for display in the entrance hall of a school.

The purpose of this activity is to explore weaving, and to design and make a large woven
...

One of the trial units from the Nuffield Primary Solutions in Design and Technology. In this unit, children learn about woven fabrics, and to design and make a fish like construction using a primitive loom.

The finished loomfish can be displayed in the classroom, so that the different designs can be...

One of the trial units from the Nuffield Primary Solutions in Design and Technology. In this unit, children design and make a small printed cushion cover.

The purpose of this activity is to explore the decorative use of lettering and pattern when
applied to fabric, and also to produce a useful item for...

One of the trial units from the Nuffield Primary Solutions in Design and Technology. In this unit, children design and make a 'simpler sampler' using fabric crayons and patterns derived from handwriting patterns.

The purpose of the activity is to create modern samplers to display handwriting patterns. This...

One of the trial units from the Nuffield Primary Solutions in Design and Technology. In this unit, children design and make a fabulous artificial flower from a range of materials such as card, paper, fabric, art straws, pipe cleaners. Each child's flower will be used in a class display of flowers. The flowers...

One of the trial units from the Nuffield Primary Solutions in Design and Technology. In this unit, children design and make a useful resource for a home that meets all the family’s identified textile repair needs.

The purpose of the task is to show the need to repair textiles when they become worn or damaged...

The Fabric Fires activity for Key Stage Three students looks at how different fabrics catch fire and burn. Students are asked to first consider the commonest reasons for fires in the home. They then test and compare a fabric and a cotton wool ball, firstly when untreated and then having first soaked them in a fire...

This booklet is part of the ‘Innovations in Practical Work’ series published by the Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme (SEP). New applications for traditional fabrics are being found, but increasingly, fibres and fabrics are engineered for specific purposes. Much...

In this project, students compare the properties of a range of fabrics made from different fibres. The fabrics could be woven or knitted and they could be made from natural fibres such as cotton and wool or synthetic fibres such as nylon. Students should investigate physical properties, such as strength,  tear...

A set of Key Stage Four Nuffield Foundation capability tasks focusing on the design, making and evaluation of textile products.

For students to develop and reveal their capability longer more open tasks requiring designing, making and evaluating are necessary. Sometimes these activities are referred to as...

A set of Key Stage Four Nuffield Foundation chooser charts focusing on textiles. Chooser charts help students make decisions about approaches to take for strategy and communication. The chooser charts are particularly useful when students are tackling open-ended projects, such as capability tasks.