African Textiles - Brooklyn Children's Museum

Activities to do with your studentsMaterialsPaperColored pencils or crayonsWhat To Do1. Using the objects from the case, introduce African machine madetextiles. Explore the differences between the handmade textilesand the machine made textiles. Can students tell the differencebetween handmade and machine made textiles? What are the cluesto look for in distinguishing between them?2. Introduce the idea that the technology of printed productionallows for textile artists to include more detailed imagery suchas photographs and images of every day items such as 7-Upbottles. Ask students to reflect on the designs and others theymight have seen like it. Why do you think photographs anddesigns are used on textiles?3. Talk about how African textile designers use textiles to documentwhat is happening in the world around them; whether that is afavorite drink or to celebrate their country’s independence. Askstudents to think about their world and come up with a list ofthings textiles can document about their lives. You can promptthem by asking: What is your favorite game? What is yourfavorite food? Who is president? Who is mayor or governor?Write their ideas on the board.4. Hand out paper and colored pencils to each student. Tellstudents to create a textile design using the African textilesand motifs as inspiration. Encourage students to draweveryday objects or an important person or event they wouldlike to commemorate.5. When their designs are complete, ask students to write aparagraph describing their design and explaining the inspirationbehind it. (Younger students may just want to write a sentenceor two: My design is… I chose this because….)African Textiles | 30