Suggested Instructional Strategies Technology has had a tremendous influence on the manufacture of textiles.
Students explore both traditional techniques and current technology used to produce textile items.
Invite guest speakers from a local weavers' and spinners' guild to demonstrate the production of yarn from fibre, using both a drop spindle and a spinning wheel. Have students summarize the processes they observe and produce their own yarn samples. Have students research the technological changes that have resulted in new textile products such as microfibres, spider filaments, polar fleece, and kevlar . Ask students to share their findings with the class, explaining how these innovations have expanded the use of textiles in fields such as medicine and sports. Show a video demonstrating the techniques used in the industrial production of textile items.