Funky Furnishings

#TheCompleteSeries6lessons

This complete series of lessons covers cushions, joining techniques, decorations, fastening and making a furnishing product. This downloadable series of lessons includes lesson plans, slideshow presentations and printable teaching resources. 

#Lesson1InvestigatingCushions

In this first lesson, children learn more about the history of the product that they will be making. As a class, they begin to analyse a range of cushions based on their functional and aesthetic features. In their independent activities, children either further analyse a cushion, or match up different products to people, depending on the user’s needs.

#Lesson2JoiningTechniques

How can we join two pieces of fabric together? In this lesson, children investigate the different sewing stitches that can be used. They learn about the right and wrong sides of fabric, and how to secure their first and last stitches with a knot. In their independent activities, children explore a range of either hidden or visible stitches, and discuss which would be the most suitable when making their cushion cover.

#Lesson3DecorativeSewingSkills

What does ‘aesthetically pleasing’ mean? As a class, children discuss the different ways in which cushions can be made visually appealing. In their independent activities, children explore how the use of adornments and the skills of embroidery and appliqué can be used to decorate a cushion cover.

#Lesson4Fastenings

How can we create a fastening for our cushion cover? In this lesson, children explore the different fastenings that they could use in their design, and discuss them in terms of secureness, durability and aesthetics. They practise creating a fastening using either an envelope fold, snap fasteners or buttons.

#Lesson5TimetoDesign

In this lesson, children combine their knowledge of joining techniques, decorative sewing skills and fastenings to design their own cushion cover. They are encouraged to think through the different steps of the making process, and plan ahead for any of the aspects that they might find challenging. In the alternate activity, each child designs an individual patch for a class patchwork cushion.

#Lesson6MakingandEvaluating

In this final lesson, children make their cushion cover. They are encouraged to regularly check their design, and make changes to it if necessary. Once their cushion cover is completed, children evaluate their finished product by answering a range of thought-provoking questions.

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Curriculum Objectives covered

• KS2 - use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups
• KS2 - generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design
• KS2 - select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing], accurately
• KS2 - select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities
• KS2 - investigate and analyse a range of existing products
• KS2 - evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work