unreasonable school project?

Done similar, DD went to charity shop I was with them, this is her advice
Need pinking shears
Find dress/shirt that can be cut to sort of fit +another item anything
Cut second item into shapes
Stick on with glue stick
Kids can do this, pinking shears save sawing
Bright ,gaudie, colours
Keep it fun don't become competitive

I am probably wrong , but I have vague memories of my Grandson doing something like this and it was actually all about measuring and noting it down , but I do think he was a bit older

I’ve lost count of the number of school projects I’ve been involved with for my dgds! Eldest dgd (7yrs) currently doing project on Florence Nightingale. Her best friend’s Mum is a drama teacher and so is creating a video featuring her dds!! We’re producing 3D poster as that’s my limit. Definitely competition for Mums I think ?

Jaycee what an unbelievably insensitive teacher!

anxiousgran I am so angry for you because I feel the teacher should be focussing on teaching the children useful skills: such as sewing on a button or sewing up a hem that's come down - rather than making the family do ALL the work. And at 5 years old this is overwhelming.
I note the pompous use of educational terms such as "evaluate" to try and make the project sound as though it fits into some kind of bigger scheme.

Sue. Donim I agree with you.
IMHO this task is inappropriate.
Many parents do not have the time or resources for this type of project. Many children who come from disadvantaged homes have not yet had the opportunities or experiences to equip themselves with, often, even basic skills.
I would imagine quite a few parents feel the same way. Could you, in a nice way, point this out to the class teacher/headmistress? Does the class teacher have children herself/himself, I wonder! I’m sure any teacher would be dismayed to have to add this task to their own already heavy workload.
I’m also wondering if it’s a clever ruse on the school’s part to be able to ‘tick some National Curriculum boxes’ out of school hours, to take some pressure off the school, and put it on to parents.
This project i feel is more suitable for ten year olds.
Some parents are struggling to put a meal on the table. This could be a cause of more anxiety for them.

I thought at first you were talking about an A level project! As a dressmaker myself I would find this difficult.

If this is project about recycling then why not use plastic bags or bin liners and staple together. Could be ruched on to elastic for a skirt. For the bodice, cut the bottom off a supermarket bag and then put over head with arms through the handles (I used to do this as a child's painting overall). Surely if it's a Y1 project then they're not expecting haute couture.

This project seems to be a test for the parents, not the child, so if a child has a very creative, artistic or technically minded parent, they are going to have a great advantage over other children in the class. It seems like an ego-trip for the teacher.

I really dislike children being judged on how good their parents are at things.
When I was in High School, we were asked in an economics class to write out our parents budget (including their earnings). My father was furious. The teacher gave an alternative topic for anyone whose parents wouldn't give them the information but I was the only one that did it. I was failed and when I was asked why I was told 'it wasn't the topic'.
This project for a 5 year old is just setting the children up to fail and verges on being unkind. Some parents struggle because of the problems with their own upbringing or education but desperately want to be good parents. It is all very well to say, use a pillow slip, but this isn't just a project to make something and the description does not lead people to think that that would be good enough.
Maybe if it was a project in stages, but some parents will have been of scraps around and old clothes etc. Others will be using their coats as bedding and wearing their old clothes.

Oh, for the days of Blue Peter projects only requiring redundant cardboard loo rolls, glitter, glue and sticky-back plastic.

My DGD has had similarly ambitious homework projects. They sound ridiculous at first but DGD made a dress out of an old pillowcase simply by cutting holes for her head and arms. She then drew on her own design. It looked great and was done in less than an hour.

Gramaretto thank you!

I think the belt and scarves idea is so good I suggest the whole class do it. Absolutely ridiculous poor children and parents/grandparents the most we ever did was a small cross stitch sampler to aid eye and hand coordination presumably.

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!

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 if over thinking it? Recycle = use old clothes someone is getting rid of and just cut to fit?

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!