Teacher Page

A Century of Changing Fashions - Teacher Page

Project Description

Zoot suits, granny shoes, baggy pants, tye-dyed, pedal-pushers, halters, flappers, hip-hop… Clothing styles come and clothing styles go. There are many factors that influence the trends in the fashion industry. The environment, economy, scientists, and culture have all impacted fashion. We demand multifunctional apparel in our fast-paced society to go from day to evening in “no-time flat.”

Clothing is worn everyday, not just for style, but for function. Why do some garments function better than others? Where did this garment come from? Why does my outfit appeal to me? What makes an outfit “out of style?” Who designed it? How can I improve a particular feature?

In this unit, the students will integrate reading, history, science, art and technology by researching some of the inventions of the past one hundred years. Use of the internet and personal interviews are the primary sources. They will present this information using the PowerPoint format. They will also design a clothing invention of the future and display it in the form of a poster.

Project Goals

Essential Question:

How have inventions impacted trends?

Specific Questions:

· How is a trend determined?

· What were the economic trends in the 20^th century (by decade)?

· What are the inventions of the 20^th century?

· What are the clothing inventions of the 20^th century?

Illinois and CPS Learning Standards

Grade Level 7/8:

State Goal #	CAS	CSF
STATE GOAL #11	B	2
STATE GOAL #3	C	1
STATE GOAL # 13	A, C	3, 1

Unit Prerequisites

Interview at least three people: aged 25yrs to 35 yrs; aged 40 to 55 yrs; aged 60 yrs to 80+yrs. See interview guideline sheet for details on conducting your interviews.

Performance Tasks

Task: The Art Institute of Chicago has selected you as a consultant to design an exhibit that traces the clothing trends in the United States from the early 1900’s to 2000. As you prepare for the exhibition at the Art Institute, you will compare and contrast similarities and differences of an individual garment (i.e pants, shirts, shoes) from decade to decade. Be sure your exhibition relates how clothing inventions have impacted the fashion trends and includes an original clothing invention of the future.

Access:

	Access the information on the internet and other resource lists regarding inventions of that time period
	Review the inventions of that time period

Interpret:

	Evaluate the list of inventions
	Identify a clothing invention from the 1900’s to the 1950’s and compare/contrast with a related invention from the 1960’s to 2000
	Determine which inventions have made the most impact
	Rate the inventions according to importance
	Organize your list, prioritizing each one
	Analyze the role each of those inventions has had

Produce:

	Outline information about one invention and the inventor
	Design an invention of the future
	Draw a picture of the invention or generate a model of the invention
	Create a logo for the invention
	Develop an advertising campaign for the invention of the future

Communicate

	Discuss inventions with class, disclosing importance
	Perform practical application of invention to demonstrate importance

Evaluate

	Evaluate your work in your class and make changes during the course of the project
	Critique the final product using rubric)– the logo and the advertising campaign
	Evaluate the results of application
	Have the members of the class survey new invention based on ad campaign

Performance Assessment Plan

Performance Indicator	Assessment Tools
Language Arts 3 C 1	Performance rubric
Science 11 B 2 13 A C 3 1	Peer judging; Teacher observation

Teacher Resources

Web Address	Description
http://udel.edu/~orzada/trends-90.htm	Fashion Trends and Cultural Influences 1960-present
http://udel.edu/~orzada/trends-29.htm	Fashion Trends and Cultural Influences 1900-1929
http://www.time.com/time/2001/inventions/	Clothing Inventions of 2001
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/apparel.shtml	Clothing-Related Inventors and Inventions
http://histclo.hispeed.com/mat/tech / cloth-tech.html	Clothing Technology
http://www.sallyqueenassociates.com/2001.htm	Historical Clothing
http://www.shsw.wisc.edu/patterns/1899weddinginfo.html	Historical wedding gowns