Lower Key Stage 2 British Clothing 1066 to Present Day
Batik

Batik is a traditional wax-resist dyeing technique in various countries. Batik textiles (linen soaked in wax and scratched) were even used in Egypt to wrap mummies. Learn the traditional craft of batik and make your own batik scarf. You could easily adapt these sessions to make batik flags, bunting, banners, bags or any other textile project.

Session 1 What is batik?

Objectives

History

  • Study an aspect or theme in British history (clothing) that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066.

Art

  • Develop techniques, including their control and use of materials with creativity and experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.

Lesson Planning

Discover what batik is, where it originated, and begin to learn the techniques needed to make your own batik fabric.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • Recap on the many reasons for changes in British clothing over the past 1000 years and explore the influence of the fabric art of batik.
  • Explore the technique of wax resist on paper using wax crayons and watercolour paints considering the effect of blending adjoining colours on the colour wheel.
  • Experiment with batik techniques using a canting tool and melted wax on cotton fabric.

Children will:

  • Learn what is meant by batik, what it looks like and how it is done.
  • Learn how the technique of wax resist on paper is very similar to batik.
  • Explore different effects using wax resist.
  • Understand the colour wheel and how adjoining colours can blend to give a pleasing effect.
  • Experiment with a canting tool and melted wax on a piece of practice fabric to learn batik techniques.

You Will Need

  • Two or three batik kettles
  • Canting tools
  • Wax pellets for melting
  • A rectangle of cotton fabric per child (about 50cm x 30cm)
  • Watercolour paint pallets, mixing pallets, paintbrushes, water pots
  • A5 paper
  • Chunky wax crayons in a variety of colours including white

Weblinks

There are no weblinks needed for this session.

Session 2 Creating a batik design on a scarf

Objectives

Art

  • Develop techniques, including control and use of materials with creativity and experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.

Design and Technology

  • Build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users.

Lesson Planning

Use your knowledge of complimentary colours to help design your own batik scarf.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • Develop skills for the craft of cotton batik by learning to control the application of melted wax and by engaging in, and experimenting with, different types of fabric dyeing.
  • Explore and develop the skills for batik to create a cotton scarf by applying melted wax and experimenting with, different types of fabric dyeing.

Children will:

  • Recap on their knowledge of the fabric craft of batik by playing an active class quiz game.
  • Apply melted wax to a long cotton strip of fabric in a design of their choice (to become a batik scarf).
  • Learn 3 different fabric dyeing techniques (from which the children will choose 1 for their scarf next session).
  • Evaluate the wax designs/patterns achieved and then discuss the techniques used.

You Will Need

  • Piece of string
  • Practise rectangle of fabric (from last session)
  • Black permanent pens
  • Fabric dye, mixed into a dye pot according to the manufacturer’s instructions
  • 2 large buckets, metal tongs (barbeque type is ideal) and 250g of table salt
  • Large spoon
  • Long strip of white cotton fabric for each child (150cm x 28cm)
  • Fabric paints in a selection of colours or alternative paints, e.g. solutions of Brusho or drawing inks
  • Containers for your coloured dyes
  • 2 or 3 brushes in each colour
  • One or two batik kettles and wax pellets to melt
  • Canting tools for a third of the class
  • Old newspapers

Weblinks

There are no weblinks needed for this session.

Session 3 Dyeing a batik scarf

Objectives

Art

  • Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences.

Design and Technology

  • Build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users.

Lesson Planning

Use the skills and knowledge you have gained to successfully dye your own batik scarf!

Teaching Outcomes:

  • Finish creating a batik scarf following exploration of a variety of ideas and techniques and to record their experiences through writing an evaluation.
  • Complete a batik design project after practising different wax and dyeing techniques over 3 sessions to build up skills and knowledge in this craft.

Children will:

  • Discuss the style of wax work on their batik scarfs.
  • Learn how wax can be removed through melting and absorption using a hot iron and paper.
  • Dye their scarf by selecting a dyeing technique from the 3 that have been learnt.
  • Discuss ideas, choices and experiences during the exploration phase and the making phase.
  • Record their experiences, influences and reflections on the project by writing an evaluation/reflection.
  • Create a wax resist border for their evaluation to use for display.

You Will Need

  • Plastic sleeve for each child containing their 3 dyed, dried (and ironed) batik pieces
  • Each child’s waxed batik scarf (begun last session)
  • Kitchen paper, iron, ironing board and newspaper
  • Dye buckets in a choice of colours and a bucket of water to pre-soak scarves
  • Large spoons and tongs to stir and lift fabrics in the dye buckets
  • Fabric paints or alternative paints
  • Brushes for applying the dye
  • Old newspapers
  • Wax crayons
  • Watercolour pallets and paint brushes

Weblinks

There are no weblinks needed for this session.