Discovering the world of sustainable and cultural textiles… and adding a side of bling!

What is the role of a Home Economist?  Home Economists advocate for individuals, families and communities and their fundamental needs. They aim to enhance the well-being of people through food and nutrition, living environments and textiles (Home Economics Institute of Australia, 2022).  A mind-map illustrating the role of a Home Economics teacher.  Reference List  Home Economics Institute of Australia. (2022). Education .  https://heia.com.au/?page_id=57

Creative Process "From little things, big things grow"  Here is a video of me explaining the inspiration for my design brief and chosen curriculum area. 

Using ICTs and Web Tools in the Classroom In today's digital world, it is essential that teachers have access to and the skills to create engaging resources for students. There are many software programs, online platforms, social media outlets and digital blogs that teachers and educators can use. Below is a list of programs that I enjoy using and believe create and inspire engaging resources.  Canva and Adobe Express When creating online and print works and I would typically use Canva. I find it very user-friendly and it has a great range of tools that are free to use. To broaden my knowledge and skills in this area I decided to try Adobe Express. This software is also very user-friendly but has a lot of additional features. It focuses more on online platforms and has the ability to create webpages, animations, QR codes and also edit videos and photos.  Below is a logo I created using Adobe Express for my personal branding.   Pinterest Pinterest is used to find insp...

  Experiment - Keep Your Body Warm This experiment looks at the insulation characteristics of various materials. The students are able to identify which fabrics and colours hold heat the best.   Insulation Experiment: Keep Your Body Warm | Science project | Education.com Thermal and Insulation Fabrics The below link to the Sew 4 Home webpage lists a number of fabrics that can be used for their thermal properties or insulation.   Thermal Fabrics to Keep Hot Hot and Cold Cold - Sew4Home

Properties of Wool Wool is an incredibly versatile fibre. It is commonly known to come from sheep but can also grow on goats, camels and rabbits.  Here is a list of some of the interesting properties of wool: It insulates against cold and heat. It is water-resistant as the liquid can roll off the surface of the wool. But it can also absorb moisture too. It can stretch. It is durable and doesn't wear out quickly. Wool is fire resistant. It can catch fire but doesn't flare up, melt or stick to the skin. This website contains lesson plans with information about the uses of wool and interesting facts about "from farm to fashion". From farm to fashion (learnaboutwool.com)

 Beeswax Wraps A lesson on how to make beeswax wraps could be not only a fun and hands-on, practical lesson but also covers a lot of curriculum content too! Beeswax wraps are a sustainable, eco-friendly alternative to plastic wraps used in the kitchen. They can be made from scrap pieces of cotton fabric and are coated in beeswax, palm resin and oil to create a firm but pliable covering for food.  This first YouTube video demonstrates how easy they are to make using pieces of cotton material.  This next YouTube video shows how effective they are compared to plastic wrap when used for storing fruits and vegetables in the fridge.  Here is a link to my Pinterest board that has a range of pins demonstrating how to make these wraps and also how to use them effectively.  Pinterest - Beeswax Wraps

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures To incorporate the cross-curriculum priority of   Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures the below resources can be included in lesson plans.  YouTube video on traditional basket weaving and the materials used.  A website with information about traditional Aboriginal clothing and the various materials they used for different occasions. Indigenous Australians discovered that different materials have different thermal properties and used them accordingly in their clothing.  Possum Skin Cloak, Animal Skins - Traditional Aboriginal clothing (koorihistory.com) Links to my Pinterest boards with inspiration of Indigenous artwork and dilly bag construction. Pinterest - Indigenous Artwork Pinterest - Dilly Bags