What Is It Made Of?

Help students understand the environmental impact of clothing materials, make sustainable choices, and explore practices like second-hand shopping, using organic materials, repairing, and upcycling.

45 minutes

- Samples of different fabrics (organic cotton, polyester, linen, etc.)
- A whiteboard or poster for writing the class pledge
- A short video or images showing the impact of synthetic materials

This lesson teaches students about the environmental impact of different clothing materials and how to make sustainable choices, such as opting for organic cotton, second-hand shopping, and upcycling. Through activities like checking clothing labels and brainstorming ways to upcycle old clothes, students learn practical ways to reduce their environmental footprint.
Step by step description: 

1. Introduction to Clothing Materials (10 minutes)
Objective: Introduce students to the different materials used in clothing and their environmental impacts.
Activity:
Start with a Question: "What are your clothes made of? Have you ever checked the labels?"
Discussion: Explain that clothing is made from various materials, both natural and synthetic. Show examples of common clothing materials.
Content:
Natural vs. Synthetic Materials:
Natural Materials: Cotton, wool, silk, linen.
Synthetic Materials: Polyester, nylon, acrylic.
Explanation:
Polyester and Synthetics:
What is Polyester?: Explain that polyester is made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource.
Environmental Impact: Polyester doesn't biodegrade and sheds tiny plastic fibers called microplastics when washed, which pollute oceans and harm marine life.
Natural Materials:
Cotton: Explain that cotton is a natural fiber, but regular cotton farming uses a lot of water and pesticides, which can harm the environment.
Organic Cotton: Organic cotton is grown without harmful chemicals and uses less water, making it a more sustainable choice.

Facts:
- The fashion industry is responsible for approximately 8-10% of global carbon emissions, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.
- Fast fashion's reliance on synthetic materials, like polyester, leads to high energy consumption because these fabrics are derived from fossil fuels. 
- Over 60% of all materials used in clothing are synthetic fibers, such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic, which are derived from petrochemicals.
- Washing synthetic garments releases tiny plastic fibers (microplastics) into waterways. It is estimated that 35% of microplastics in the ocean come from synthetic textiles.
- Synthetic fabrics can take hundreds of years to decompose, contributing to long-term environmental pollution.
- The fashion industry is the second-largest consumer of water globally. Producing one cotton T-shirt requires about 2,700 liters of water, equivalent to what a person drinks in 2.5 years.
- The industry uses vast amounts of chemicals in textile production, contributing to water pollution. For example, 20% of industrial water pollution globally is attributed to textile dyeing and treatment.
Visual Aid:
Show a short video or images that explain the environmental impact of synthetic vs. natural materials.

2. Evaluating Your Own Clothes (10 minutes)
Objective: Encourage students to evaluate the materials in their clothing and understand their choices.
Activity:
Label Check: Ask students to look at the labels of their clothes (they can check what they’re wearing or something from their bags) and note what materials they find.
Group Discussion: Have students share what they found. Discuss which materials are more common and why they might be used.
Reflection:
Ask: “Did you find more natural or synthetic materials? How do you feel knowing that some of your clothes might harm the environment?”

3. Making Wise Material Choices (10 minutes)
Objective: Teach students about making sustainable choices when it comes to clothing.
Content:
Choose Better Materials:
Organic Cotton: Sustainable, uses fewer chemicals.
Linen and Hemp: Strong natural fibers that use less water and pesticides.
Tencel and Bamboo: Made from renewable resources and are biodegradable.
Recycled Materials: Some clothes are made from recycled polyester or other materials, reducing waste.
Discussion:
Ask: “What materials would you choose now that you know their impact? Why?”
Interactive Element:
Material Samples: If possible, pass around samples of different fabrics (organic cotton, linen, polyester, etc.) for students to feel the difference.

4. Sustainable Clothing Practices (10 minutes)
Objective: Introduce students to practices that extend the life of clothes and reduce environmental impact.
Content:
Second-Hand Shopping: Explain how buying second-hand clothes reduces waste and is more sustainable than buying new.
Repairing Clothes: Teach that instead of throwing away clothes with a small tear or missing button, they can be repaired.
Clothing Swaps: Suggest organizing clothing swaps with friends or family as a fun way to refresh their wardrobe without buying new.
Upcycling: Discuss how old clothes can be transformed into new items, like turning old jeans into a bag or a T-shirt into a pillowcase.
Buying Less, Choosing Well: Encourage thoughtful purchasing, focusing on quality over quantity.
Examples:
Story of a T-Shirt: Explain how a simple T-shirt made of organic cotton can last longer if it’s well cared for and how it can be repurposed into something new once it’s worn out.
Activity:
Brainstorm: Ask students to think of creative ways to upcycle old clothes. They can share ideas with the class.

5. Pledge and Wrap-Up (5 minutes)
Objective: Conclude the lesson by encouraging students to commit to more sustainable clothing choices.
Activity:
Class Pledge: Create a class pledge to make sustainable clothing choices, such as “We promise to care for our clothes, choose sustainable materials, and reduce waste.”
Sign the Pledge: Students can sign the pledge and display it in the classroom.

Final Thoughts:

Recap: Summarize the key points: the impact of clothing materials on the environment, the importance of choosing sustainable options, and ways to reduce clothing waste.

Encouragement: Encourage students to share what they’ve learned with their families and to start making more sustainable clothing choices.

Homework/Extension:
Home Activity: Ask students to evaluate their wardrobe at home and identify items that could be repaired, upcycled, or donated.

Creative Task: Students can design an upcycled clothing item and share their ideas or drawings with the class in the next lesson.
 

- science and environmental studies: helps understand the impact of human activities on the environment  specifically focusing on how clothing production and consumption affect climate change and waste; keywords: carbon footprint of fast fashion industry, environmental impact of different materials, consequences of plastic pollution from synthetic fibers

- social studies and citizenship: this lesson can be part of discussion on consumerism, ethical consumption, and global citizenship. It teaches students about the social and ethical implications of fast fashion, such as labor practices and resource exploitation; keywords: global supply chains and their social impact, responsible choices, ethical consumption, social responsibility of business and consumers

- art class: The lesson can be used in art and design classes to inspire creativity in upcycling, fashion design, and sustainable art projects. Students can explore sustainable design principles and create projects using recycled or eco-friendly materials; keywords: creativity in upcycling materials, sustainable art, promote environmental awareness