Playing with Fabric

Marimo- We are going to play with this material today. Do you know what these are called? The children responded with diverse guesses: paper, carpet, kimono, clothes, shirt..

Then I introduced the material; f,f,f, fa… N- Fabric!

Marimo- Yes, they are called fabric. Do you find any fabric in this room?

M: I think this (points her clothes) like mine. I agreed with the children in how fabric is a material that we use to keep ourselves warm and covered, like clothes. And also how towels and curtains are made fabric. Children began to touch the different kinds of fabric and feel the texture. One of the children noticed the fluffy quality and another the condition of shiny and see-through. Then, K exclaimed, “I want to cut!”. After she tried using scissors, she realized the materials was quite difficult to cut. K, “It’s hard.”

Marimo- Why do you think it's so hard?

K- I don’t know…

M- I want to use scissors, too. I want to make something to put on my shirt. It was hard to cut the fabric with paper scissors.

M was so careful and patient to cut the fabric.

K- Can I just rip it? Wow I did it!

Marimo- Was it easy?

K- Yes. Can I try this one?

K and his friend tried to pull the fabric together.

K- Please pull it! More more!

The fabric was strong and did not rip. I asked, Why do you think this fabric didn’t rip?

K- I don’t know. This is a strong fabric! It was a good experiment that the scissors in the classroom were not for the fabric and it was so hard to cut the fabric.

M- I want to use scissors, too. I want to make something to put on my shirt.

It was hard to cut the fabric with paper scissors. M was so careful and patient to cut the fabric.

K- Can I just rip it? Wow I did it!

Marimo: Was it easy?

K- Yes. Can I try this one?

Marimo- Yes

K and his friend tried to pull the fabric together.

K- Please pull it! More more!

The fabric was strong and did not rip. It was a good experiment that the scissors in the classroom were not for the fabric and it was so hard to cut the fabric.

Other children used the fabric in ways in which they could design something to wear. T made his fabric into a belt, and he was very proud. I asked, why did you choose this fabric?

T- Because it is a kimono.

M. Made a scarf and later she made a dress to go to the party. For some children, fabric is a material for clothes, they try to put them on their bodies, while for others, it could be anything, like food.

A- I made curry!!

V- I made something I can put on a boat!

A I rolled the fabric.

T- Was it easy to roll the fabric?

A- Yes

T- Was it easier to roll the fabric than paper?

A- Yes.

T- Can you hold it upright? (He tried, but it didn’t stand up)

Marimo: Why do you think it didn’t?

A- ummm, I don’t know… maybe too

R- I made a tuna roll!

T- It is a huge tuna roll!

R- Because I love tuna rolls. For some children, they see fabric like they see paper, as a material to make things.

K- I’m a Halloween monster!!

C- Wow! Big fabric!

C- Everybody, come in!

C- It’s like a tent!

M- N, come here!

N got inside the fabric and Masatsugu rolled him up.

Marimo: What is the name of the play?

N- I don’t know what it is called, but it is fun!

M- Guru guru (rolling it up)

For some children, the fabric is a versatile toy to play with.

The word, “fabric” was not a very familiar word for children and was even hard for me to describe to the children. We have some dresses and clothes to play with, but don’t have just “fabric” to play with in the ELC. We adults think we may need specific tools to manipulate the fabric, like scissors and needles, but the children used prior knowledge and their imaginations and they were less rigid with their methods. The children seemed to fall into three groups. One group wore fabric as clothes and props, while another group preferred using larger pieces of fabric as toys. The last group of children manipulated the fabric using the tools and made things. This activity brought out each child’s natural tendency; some were more focused on imagination and play while others focused on making something.

Marimo Yagi

Chapter 5: Tie-Dye

“In the beginning it looks a little simpler, and once it’s all connected it becomes something much more different... similar to you, all alone, you are one thing, but when you become a group, you become something very different, very beautiful.”

Richard Carbin [Local Tie-Dye Artist]