Dyeing, Experimentation, and Historical Significance of Plant Dyes and Textiles
Grade 2
Social Studies—Learn about and experiment with different natural resources that have been used around the world to dye clothing and fiber. The dyes can be used as a reference point of their country of origin. For example, Madder root is derived from Turkey, Cochineal is from Mexico and Central America, Weld—Europe, Indigo—India, Japan and many, many more. This is a visual way to identify regions of the world, their cultural significance, and impact on trade, using plant dyes as a reference point.
Science—Students will ask questions about the natural world using plant dyes as a source for these questions. They will test predictions and record their results on recipe cards in order to show repeatable findings.
They will observe what tools and substances they are using to perform these experiments such as types of fabric, dyes, mordants, after baths. By recording their findings, students will notice patterns and trends in how color is affected or altered based the multiple variables they used in their dyeing process.
Grade 3
Social Studies—Students will dye and create patterns with the historically significant plant indigo. This will be a jumping off point into South Carolina’s climate and why indigo grew well here, it’s golden age of exportation because of England’s demand and political relationship with the Carolina’s, and the number one fact that indigo was only a successful cash crop here because of the enslaved African labor and knowledge.
Science— Students will ask questions about the natural world using plant dyes as a source for these questions. They will test predictions and record their results on recipe cards in order to show repeatable findings.
They will observe what tools and substances they are using to perform these experiments such as types of fabric, dyes, mordants, after baths. By recording their findings, students will notice patterns and trends in how color is affected or altered based the multiple variables they used in their dyeing process.
They will be able to identify the variable and controls, whether their predictions were accurate or not, and acknowledge the final outcome of their dye experiment.
Grade 4-8
Social Studies— Lesson 1: Students will learn about dyes that were and are still traded worldwide such as indigo, madder root, weld, and cochineal. They will experiment with each of these dyes to understand how color is extracted from natural resources and see for themselves the brilliance of color that has engaged human civilization for centuries.
Lesson 2: Students will learn about and experiment dyes that Native Americans would have used to dye leather, tapestries, and other fiber. Such dyes will be ones native to the Americas such as osage orange, walnut hulls, acorns, pecans, goldenrod, cochineal, and more. T
Science— This experience uses plant dyes as a basis for scientific, analytical thinking, organization involving variables and controls, and thought out decision making.
Students will ask questions about the natural world using plant dyes as a source for these questions. They will test predictions and record their results on recipe cards in order to show repeatable findings.
They will observe what tools and substances they are using to perform these experiments such as types of fabric, dyes, mordants, after baths. By recording their findings, students will notice patterns and trends in how color is affected or altered based the multiple variables they used in their dyeing process.
They will be able to identify the variable and controls, whether their predictions were accurate or not, and acknowledge the final outcome of their dye experiment.
There will also be an emphasis on solutions, mixtures, suspension in liquid, acids, bases, oxygen and its role in indigo as an example of it one it’s many relationships with other molecules that make up a substance. Grades at the middle school level will go in more depth about what is happening at a molecular level with indigo, oxygen, antioxidants, bases, and acids.
