unreasonable school project?

I too am a retired primary teacher and agree with others who find this inappropriate for a young child.
BUT unless the school gets feedback from families they will continue along this line.
There is no point in complaining but not communicating with the school just as there is no point in buying in to the competitive parents nonsense.

I think the ’We ended up making.........’ says it all - especially when only a 5 yr old child.

I stopped my child’s primary school doing it. I stood up in a meeting and pointed out that it was hardly fair when researching a famous painting that we had visited the National Gallery and some children couldn’t even get to the library.

I've emailed the school a couple of times and had no response at all.
No surprise to me, sadly.

Sympathies OP, I can remember ridiculous projects which very young children don't have the wherewithal to make/compile on their own. One such one that I remember when one of ours was about five or so, make an instrument out of cereal boxes . I remember it because I'd just gone back to work for my husband and resented the time given over to farting about with cardboard and elastic bands until I managed to cobble together something that looked like a guitar. Pointless really because as I gathered from fellow mothers at the school gates it was incumbent on us as the parent to pretty much do the work for them. A delegation of parents did go into the school to complain about an "in depth" project on a European country of their choice when one of them was aged 7, requesting that "age appropriate" homework be set, that isn't reliant on parents' efforts.

Izabella sending hugs.
I can remember classes of 45+ . Some kids had no shoes and certainly no change of clothes for gym, - knickers and bare tops!
There has been a quiet revolution in teaching.
All those clothes being cut up and glued together goes against the grain for me. Make clothes ofcourse but to wear please. A poor child in Bangladesh probably made those jeans.

Factor in 'superhero' days, 'spotty' days, 'going on a school trip but dressed as a victorian' days, alongside reading for 45 minutes each night and regular homework..

I think whilst they are still in the womb there is so much wasted time. Why not try to get a foreign language in there or perhaps some hand/eye coordination exercises.

I'd like to see what the boys in the class come up with!

I agree with everyone else of course. This is far too much for a 5 year old and the parents should get together and protest to the head teacher

This really is utterly absurd. A five year old has zero chance of completing this project from start to finish on their own, so it is nothing more than a competition for the parents/grandparents. And the school obviously knows this.
Setting this sort of homework completely ignores the fact that most parents work and have little time to spend on these complex projects. It also ignores the fact that half-term is a break from school - families may indeed have a holiday booked. Children as young as five should not be put under such pressure outside of school hours. As someone else said, it is no wonder mental health issues are so much on the increase
I would be contacting as many parents as possible about this, as I'm sure the majority will be feeling the same. And try to get them all to write in saying their child will not be taking part as this project is clearly, as the teacher must know, beyond their capabilities.

This sort of homework is complete bollocks!

It achieves nothing and is obviously going to mainly be done by the parents (probably mothers) and it simply highlights those children whose parents are not in a [position to help them.

This sort of project should be done in school - the associated homework might be to gather the basic materials together, where possible, or to make a list of the things that you think you might need and your ideas.

As to the "fashion show" - there will the children whose parents have made something wonderful and those with barely anything - how humiliating!

Children's homework that requires parents to do it is just the pits.

Lily65

DGs primary 1 has a project book for the term, one per week. Nothing too difficult, mainly collecting things explaining the use, where he got them etc.
It is almost the norm here that both parents work, DD does not so has more time, but homework is limited to take family into account.

Absolutely ridiculous as it will obviously not be the completed work of a 5 year old but their parents/grannies/siblings etc - so in reality a Mother's Competition and I would refuse to do it quite frankly .....

Mumofmadboys great minds think alike! Hadn't read all the comments before I commented as was astounded at the OP's post!

Don't do it anxiousgran!

Not sure if over thinking it? Recycle = use old clothes someone is getting rid of and just cut to fit?

Personally I would bat this straight back to the school. For a 5 year old it’s obviously way out of their capabilities so just causes stress and extra work for hard pushed parents. Unreasonable and illogical.

Not sure I even understood the instructions. What does 'brainstorm their fabrics ' mean?
My twin GC started school in September. My DGD might be interested in this for a short time, but wouldn't be capable of many of the skills needed without help. DGS would be interested for about 5 seconds and then go off to do something else.
As a retired teacher ,I'm not sure this has been planned with the skills of this age-group in mind.

I’m a teacher and think this ‘project’ is utterly ridiculous. It’s way beyond the skills of a five year old. (Many I teach don’t know how to use scissors properly yet!) IMO homework should be minimal (reading, spelling) and I would never give something that is beyond their capabilities.

I was reading this and thought that’s not unreasonable for someone doing GCSE textiles. Then I read it was a 5 year old expected to do this. How could a 5 year year old begin to do this? Some can barely dress themselves at that age. Why should a parent grandparent have to rise to this challenge? I did A level needlework some years ago and can drive a sewing machine pretty well, but would hate to have to do this.

If you are 5, why not make a Cinderella skirt out of recycled things? It doesn't gave to be glam in an adult' s eyes. Use up some Christmas tinsel and cut a hole in an old square scarf/tablecloth/piece of curtain or whatever you don't mind using up. I think she'll enjoy working on that sort of project and can use it to play in later.

I am presuming this is something that is done during the school holiday. I think the idea is to show something they have done with their parents or grandparents. It’s to encourage joint play, as a lot of children these days are just put in front of the TV or tablet. I definitely think it wasn’t meant for the child to do alone. Making a scarf out of an old jumper with pom-poms edging hardly needs much sewing or they could be tired on with wool . I used to do sewing with infants and I assure you they are all quite capable.

Oh! My oldest child unravelled an old jumper at about age 5 and knitted a scarf for her doll. That's quite simple!

I agree it seems like a big task for a 5 year old.

You need to simplify it in your mind. Maybe items of clothing the child has outgrown cut sleeves off/join a short top and skirt together/use sleeves to tie a top tabard style etc.

The top and bottom of it (excuse the pun) is to make it fun creating with the child. Trial and error.

Have fun and enjoy. Remember children pick up on anxiety so if you feel like that she may get anxious too.

Post a picture when you have finished.

When my DD was in Year 2 they had an eco fashion show . We made a plastic bag rara skirt. Then made plastic & paper flowers and stapled them to an old t.shirt. We fastened some of those to an old hairbsnd too. We even made a newspaper handbag. We looked on Pinterest together & I steered her towards do-able ideas. She did help with some of it, but it was family homework so it was meant to be a joint project. And we had to do it during the half term holiday...so you were stuffed if you were going away!