Creative Textile Art

Overview

This is the first lesson in a three-lesson unit titled Creative Art Explorations for Year 4 students. The focus is on introducing students to the art of weaving, linking this to both Māori and global cultural contexts. Students will develop fine motor skills through creating simple woven textile pieces, exploring patterns and textures.

---

Curriculum Alignment

This lesson closely follows the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh (The refreshed national curriculum for New Zealand schools) with emphasis on the Visual Arts learning area for Year 4 students (Years 4–6 phase) and Cultural Understanding competencies.

Learning Areas & Strands:

• The Arts > Visual Arts:

  • Understanding the Arts in Context
  • Developing Practical Knowledge
  • Communicating and Interpreting
  • Presenting

• Key Competencies:

  • Managing Self
  • Relating to Others
  • Participating and Contributing

• Values:

  • Excellence (striving to produce quality artworks)
  • Diversity (exploring weaving traditions from Māori and other cultures)
  • Community and Participation (working collaboratively)

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. Describe the cultural significance of weaving in Māori and other cultures (Understanding the Arts in Context).
2. Demonstrate basic weaving techniques using different materials (Developing Practical Knowledge).
3. Create simple weaving projects, focusing on patterns and textures (Communicating and Interpreting).
4. Reflect on their weaving process and describe choices made (Presenting).

Achievement Objective References:

• Visual Arts – Understanding the Arts in Context: Explore how Maori and other cultures express identity, stories, and traditions through visual arts.
• Visual Arts – Developing Practical Knowledge: Experiment with a range of materials and tools with developing confidence and control.
• Visual Arts – Communicating and Interpreting: Develop ideas and communicate meanings through arts practice.
• Visual Arts – Presenting: Reflect on and share ideas about their artwork and those of others.

---

Lesson Details

Duration: 45 minutes
Class: Year 4 (30 students)
Location: Classroom/webbing area with tables for weaving

---

Lesson Plan

1. Introduction and Engagement (10 minutes)

• Begin with discussion and storytelling:

  • Teacher introduces weaving as a traditional and contemporary art form important to Māori culture (e.g., kete weaving, harakeke/flax).
  • Show images or samples of Māori weaving and simple examples from other cultures (e.g., woven baskets from Pacific Islands, or chambray weaving patterns).
  • Discuss the significance of weaving as both practical craft and artistic expression.
  • Use simple te reo Māori phrases relevant to the topic (e.g., raranga for weaving, harakeke for flax), supporting cultural vocabulary and language.

• Learning Intentions: Clearly explain that students will learn simple weaving techniques and create their own woven piece exploring patterns and texture.

Resources: Images, physical weaving samples or simplified weaving tools, harakeke or substitute materials (paper strips, yarn, wool, raffia)

---

2. Guided Exploration - Weaving Basics (15 minutes)

• Demonstration:

  • Teacher demonstrates the basic over-under weaving technique using a small cardboard loom or rigid frame and different coloured strips of paper or yarn.
  • Highlight the concepts of pattern (repeating over-under structure), tension (keeping strands taut but not tight), and texture (different materials create different feels).

• Student Activity:

  • Students create their own small weaving sample using provided materials (paper strips, fabric yarns, raffia).
  • Encourage exploration of pattern repetition and alternating colours/textures to create visual interest.
  • Teacher circulates to assist, focusing on encouraging fine motor skill development and supporting students who need extra guidance.

---

3. Cultural Connection and Reflection (10 minutes)

• Class discussion:

  • Invite students to share their woven pieces with a partner or small group, describing the patterns and materials they chose.
  • Link back to Māori weaving traditions discussed earlier and invite students to reflect on the importance of weaving culturally and practically.

• Reflection prompts:

  • What patterns did you use?
  • How did the texture of the materials feel?
  • Why do you think weaving is important to different cultures?

---

4. Consolidation and Clean-Up (10 minutes)

• Display: Collect and display student weaving samples in the classroom or create a collaborative weaving wall display to showcase diversity in patterns and materials.
• Clean up: Organise materials and ensure students take responsibility for their creative space.
• Preview next lesson: Briefly introduce next session where students will use looms or explore weaving with natural fibres like harakeke if possible.

---

Assessment

• Formative assessment: Teacher observes students’ ability to follow the over-under weaving technique, engagement with the cultural discussion, use of pattern and texture.
• Learning conversations: Ask students to describe their weaving process and use of pattern during reflection.
• Peer feedback: Encourage sharing feedback about patterns and materials used.

Assessment is based on the Visual Arts progress outcomes at Year 4, emphasising practical skills, cultural understanding, and communication through art practice.

---

Materials & Equipment

• Small cardboard or wooden weaving looms (or substitute rigid grids)
• Assorted yarns, strips of fabric, paper strips, raffia
• Images or examples of Māori weaving and global textile traditions
• Visual aids with te reo Māori vocabulary related to weaving
• Scissors, glue (optional for securing ends)

---

Teacher Notes

• Prepare alternative materials for students with sensory sensitivities.
• Link weaving patterns to simple maths patterns (e.g., repeating sequences) if cross-curricular activities are possible later.
• Incorporate tikanga Māori by acknowledging weaving as a taonga (treasure) and encourage respectful handling of materials.
• Support students who finish early with extension activities such as creating a pattern key or drawing their weaving design before weaving.

---

This lesson is designed to inspire creativity, cultural respect, and fine motor skill development through a hands-on introduction to weaving — a meaningful art form in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world.

---

If you need subsequent lessons in this unit or more detailed resource ideas, please ask!