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Notes for Teachers

This lesson was designed for a 5th grade gifted enrichment class, to utilize e-textiles to create a sewn felt sugar skull with eyes that illuminate.

Students work individually.

This lesson could be two weeks for students in a regularly scheduled class.

This lesson incorporates circuits, art and sewing (e-textiles).

The Sugar Skull Lesson Slides include step-by-step instructions.

List of Materials

sugar skull template from Instructables Brooch
cardstock to make sugar skull patterns
felt
embroidery floss (thread)
conductive thread
coin batteries
coin battery holders
embroidery needles
keychain rings
gallon sized ziploc bags, one per student to store their project and supplies

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Standards

Arizona Science

4.P4U1.1

Develop and use a model that explains how energy is moved from place to place through electric currents.

Core Ideas for using Science: U2

The knowledge produced by science is used in engineering and technologies to solve problems and/or create products.

Arizona Engineering

STANDARD 2.0

Create engineering solutions by applying a structured problem-solving/decision making process

Arizona Art Standards

5.1 Generate and Conceptualize Artistic Ideas

Combine ideas to generate an innovative idea for art making.
Identify and demonstrate diverse methods of artistic investigation (e.g., researching subject matter, techniques, the work of other artists) to choose an approach for beginning a work of art.

5.2 Organize and Develop Artistic Ideas and Work

Develop skills in multiple art-making techniques and experiment with approaches (e.g., using elements and principles of modern art, applying artistic norms of diverse cultures through practice.
Demonstrate quality craftsmanship through care and use of materials, tools, and equipment.

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Objectives:

I Can:

Utilize the engineering design process to plan, create and share a unique, functioning illuminating e-textile sugar skull.
Design and hand sew an aesthetically pleasing sugar skull.
Create a functioning circuit that illuminates LEDs.
Understand the products and practices of Hispanic cultures re: Día de los Muertos.

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Agenda

Day 1

Introduce students to Día de los Muertos with a video read aloud (3min 05 seconds)

Celebrate the World Día de los Muertos read aloud kids’ book.

Have students answer the following questions and discuss them as a class.

What is Día de los Muertos?
When is Día de los Muertos celebrated?
For how long is it celebrated?
What are at least three ways Día de los Muertos is celebrated?
What is an ofrenda?

Introduce the challenge: Create a light up sugar skull keychain by sewing and creating a circuit (e-textile).

Have students draw out their design.

Pass out Ziploc bags & have students write their name on it with a Sharpie.

Pass out template (copied on cardstock) for students to cut out.

Day 2

Practice Sewing:

Pass out scrap pieces of fabric or felt, thread, and an embroidery needle.

Using a document camera.

show students how to tie a knot at the end of the thread
show students how to thread the needle
show students how to thread in and out of the fabric

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Agenda

Days 3-4

Cut out 2 felt sugar skulls:

Have students use the template to cut out two sugar skulls (one for the front and one for the back).

Have students sew their designs.

Start with the eyes, then go to the nose, mouth, and extra details.

Days 5-6

Create the circuit:

Show students the slide, “How does a circuit work” with the visuals of the circuit supplies they will have.

In pairs, have them draw out how they think the circuit will work.

Engage students in a gallery walk to see others’ ideas and have them make any adjustments to their own drawings.

Draw out how the circuit will work on the board to ensure understanding.

Get the eyes in:

Have students label the end of the positive lead (anode) with a sharpie and insert the LEDs as eyes.

Have students curl each LED lead, ensuring the positive lead is on the outside. (see pictures from slides)

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Agenda

Days 7-8

Attach the coin battery:

Use the slides to walk students through how to stitch the conductive thread to the LED leads and coin battery holder connection points.

Check the stitches:

Have students check to make sure none of the conductive thread is crossing or touching another thread. This will cause a short.

Insert the coin battery & test:

Insert the coin battery as shown in the slides. If the eyes are not lighting up, go through the troubleshooting questions from slide 18.

Days 9-10

Attach the back of the sugar skull. Make about ¼ of the stitches, then:

Make sure to include a slit for the coin battery holder on/off switch.

Make a hole for the keychain & sew around the hole for aesthetics and to strengthen the hole.

Sew the rest of the back together. Attach the keyring.

Have students fill out the Engineering Design Process reflection (slide 19). (Teachers can create class Google slides of blank reflection templates and add to LMS for students to access.

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Challenge

Create a light up sugar skull keychain by sewing and creating a circuit (e-textiles).

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

~Day 2, students practice sewing individually.
~Days 3-4, students sew their designs individually.
~Day 5, students work in pairs to draw out how the circuit could work. Then, have a gallery walk and teacher explanation to ensure understanding.
~Day 6, students insert the LEDs as eyes.
~Day 7-8, students sew their circuit
~Day 9-10, students complete sewing and attach the keyring.

These

step-by-step instructions can be found in the Sugar Skull Lesson Slides

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Assessment

Engineering Design Process Reflection

Have students reflect on their process and learning. Teachers may want to create a class Google slide presentation and students can add their pictures and reflections.

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Differentiation

Students can choose the level of complexity for their design.

Provide students with extra time.

Students will have access to the step-by-step instructions provided in the class LMS.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Students can choose the level of complexity for their design.