unreasonable school project?

Time for a parental rebellion!

Making "helpful suggestions" is simply condoning the imposition of inappropriate tasks.
Don't buy into it!
Refuse and complain!
Otherwise by the time they're 10 you'll be attempting to build and launch a space rocket for the science project!

I would much rather the homework be handwriting practice. My DD despairs of the very poor handwriting accepted by the school that DGC attend. I taught infants for many years, and correct formation of letters was deemed important. When I taught further up the school, I would continue to give practice if required, and ask for work to be rewritten if necessary. The above mentioned project should be kept for much further up the school, or, preferably, secondary school.

writing will be obsolete soon.

This is a ridiculous project for a five year old, who hasn't the manual dexterity required to cut fabric, thread a needle and measure herself even half -accurately. It needs to be challenged by the parents as to the value for the child, and the targets the teacher who set it believes they are meeting. Suggest parents help with the design and provide suitable materials. ie: pillowcases, old sheets etc, and the school supervises the manufacture of appropriate garments over a period of sessions in the classroom, with parental help if available.
But good luck in achieving this, as you will find it is the brainchild of enthusiastic, inexperienced teachers, without children of their own, determined to make their name, and the Head will back them. But it may prevent them from initiating something so stupid again.

I thought people were generally complaining that standards were not high enough...now the complaint is expectations are too high...there is no pleasing people these days ???

Can I ask? If this is a half term challenge culminating in a fashion show, is it for the whole school up to year 6 with younger children only expected to participate in a limited way as appropriate for their age?

fountainpen It is difficult to know exactly what is expected. It might be totally unreasonable or perfectly fine! Trouble is OP has given her interpretation of the letter. If one finds these projects worrying ..even if it is reasonable... it might feel really overwhelming. Others may be taking it in their stride & loving it.

I laughed out loud when I read the age of the child, I expected at least 14

PECS
There are standards and standards.
When basic standards are met, then is the time to dabble in the frilly bits.
You don't sew buttons on a piece of cloth before making the garment.

PECS. I wouldn't mind seeing the flyer if the OP could post a copy without revealing the name of the school. As worded it does seem inappropriate for such a young child which is why I suggested the doll's version a few pages upthread which would be simple and fun to do. I'm even wondering if this is an all-through school and the flyer is meant for much older children. Has the OP been back to comment further?

She's probably muttering away, buried under a heap of carrier bags, tinsel, material and towels..

Perhaps the flyer was meant for Y5 and Y6 and this 5 year old picked it up by mistake.

Even so, I can hear parents of Y6 children grumbling.

The best outfit I ever saw was in a Butlin's Fancy dress competition. Many of the children had obviously brought outfits ready-made or bought previously, but one little girl just had large chunks of grass pinned all over her clothes. The bemused judge asked her what she was supposed to be. She smiled sweetly, and said, I'm a little sod!"
The audience howled with laughter, and she won the first prize!

My five uear old DS got sent a similar project which like yoy I did panic about. They had to make something useful for the home out of recycled rubbish basically. My biggest worry was that Im in a wheelchair with one hand and my DH wont touch crafy etc due to OCD and a phobia of glue, glittwr etc. I panicked and was about yo phone thw school when I got my approved food order delivered (dried goods I order onlune) my son had answered the door to the delivery guy (we know him and were expecting him) and I found them both in the kitchen emptying the box, I said he didnt have to thinking he was just helping put away as he did at timwa when I was bad. But he said my DS had plans for the box for hia homework and he asked for some seloptape and they took lierally minute sbetween his deliveriwa to make a shelving unit out of the box and other interal boxes (normallt has 5-6 smaller boxes inside seperating goods). Seemingly my DS had already came up with the idea and hadnt worried about it at all. He then sat most of the day on my kitchen floor paper mache-ing it with newspaper and glue. It took no effort from me and only a little assistance from our delivery guy who told me my DS had already known what he was going yo do and had been waiting for his "big box" fron the shopping.

I think your thinking too kuch into what the allocated homework means. They dont relaly expect a 5
Year old to do immaculate stitching and planning. Cutting up some old clothes and refashionung them into something else is good enough. Youtube "repurpoaing old. Lothes" or "old tshirt hacks" etc. It isnt too haed for a child to design a garment and find a few old clothes and measure and cut to fit. Instead of measuring themselves a trick i learnt is measure an item of clothing they wear that is similar that does fit. My son oftten makes things from other items its a kids imagination, all this honework does is help thwm show how they planned and measured it. My child has been a roman all week as soon as he geta back from school he wrapps an old sheet round him, with an old belt and puts on his bike helmet with a bit of cardboard at the front. Why dont you talk to the child and ask what they would like to do. But explain that the work is theres and your only there to help. Ulyimately homework is for the child not for an adult so it should be their own work, they wont get good marks for letting an adult do it.

May be you are over thinking the project, find a pair of old trousers cut off a leg, teach your grand daughter to thread a needle and sew a hem, thread through some elastic and she has a skirt. If she did want to be a Princess why not? She is bound to have a little skirt or dress with a full skirt, cut up a shirt and make a under petticoat sprayed with starch so it has the old fashioned ‘can can’ petticoat. Go to the Charity shops with her, look up old fashions, and learn about textures colours. Have fun, and let her be challenged, she will learn from it, and you will have fun with her in the process. I talked to my five year old grand daughter, now I need to help put the dressing up clothes back in the box?

I'm baffled! I read this as being a GCSE project but the idea of doing something like this with a 5 year old seems dotty to me.
Its too complicated and far too demanding of adult time. I'd ban homework up to year 6 and then only introduce half an hour max each evening, in preparation for year 7.

It's one thing to give parents or carers ideas of inexpensive and interesting things to do together over half term but this is in another league. What happened to doing some weeding or planting seeds, baking buns or a cake?
It also further disadvantages children whose parents have no interest in supporting their education. Grump.

Personally I think you are way overthinking this and are really thinking it out from an adults point of view scarves make the most wonderful costumes without any sewing at all just tying ( if you don’t have any charity shops usually have loads)
Break it down
1 ) she can draw a costume and arrow to the drawing “made from” ..... Name the recycled item
2) ‘Brainstorm’ the fabric ( just s modern word for talk about/ explore) can be a fifteen minute chat about plastics, cottons reusable material etc she probably knows nearly as much as you anyway
3) measure yourself this is important and easy enough for you both to do together
4) make a poster kids ....love making posters

A scarf round her waist to make a long or short skirt depending on the scarf size a scarf tied around her chest for a top and a turban style round her head
You can add a long thin one as a belt
I have a lovely pic of two grandkids who did just this when playing in the bedroom they found an old sunshade to add to the pic and honestly they looked really good they were a bit older ( but had no help) but it could easily be adapted I wish I could put the pic up but don’t want to identify the girls

Personally I think the only thing wrong with this project is that it is worded for an adult to read unless you have worded it yourself

* Gabbriella* thanks for your suggestion. However this project is within the Y1 science curriculum about 'materials' ie fabrics, plastics, metal etc etc. and IS part of the basics the government wants our children to learn!,

You only have to look when the small children do an Easter Bonnet parade! Some creations by relatives show they think ‘winning’ is better than child participation. It doesn’t send a good message to (most) of the children does it?

This sort of project reminds me of the ones devised for Design and Technology, replacing domestic science, when students were told to create a meal suitable for an aeroplane journey, without having any knowledge or experience of food preparation, nutrition or cookery. Completely impractical.One does need to learn some basics otherwise these projects are valueless.

One may not sew buttons on first when making a garment, but would know how to thread a needle and sew a seam, however badly. I taught many children in Years 4,5 and 6 who really could not thread a needle and had no idea about anchoring the thread/ finishing off securely, because they had spent their time in earlier years on precisely these daft, unstructured projects. The emphasis is all on the design, not the practicalities, then the made object falls apart and the children are frustrated and discouraged.

So much homework sent home by younger children is obviously beyond their capabilities, and the work is done by family members instead. Just how does this benefit the child in their education?

There is an expectation, rightly or wrongly, that parents would like to be involved in their youngsters' learning. Homework is a real ' divider' in my experience. Some parents want it, others do not. Some parents love " drill & rote" type homework some do not. Some love project homeworks some do not. There are of course lots of in between styles too! Obviously communication is all! Schools have a responsibility to explain their policy and expectations & parents & carers have a responsibility to take note and ask for clatification, meetings etc!
I agree that any homework set should be able to be done by all the children ( sometimes with parent/ carer support ) & school should offer homework club for kids they know may struggle. However it is important that parent/carers know that teachers are aware of the children's capability and will not be impressed by obviously adult work!

My problem with this is that it is meant to be done in the half-term holiday. Done in school with appropriate guidance I think it would be a fun project. I know that 'Trashion' shows are all the rage with Primary Schools at the moment and I'm sure the majority of children would find the work enjoyable.
However, if you're a harried single parent dealing with guilt at having to work at half-term anyway, if it's a struggle to find suitable child care, or if a holiday has been booked, then it's going to be one more burden to be managed. My daughter is a working mum with three children, including a five year old, and would bend over backward to do this with her son, but I guarantee he would not 'learn' much about the process because it would be a case of her getting on with it I expect.

PECS
Ah! I see. Thanks for the explanation.
I do think that an activity which didn't involve the parents or GPs would be more suitable.
Yes, measuring, dexterity and innovation are all well and good but some educational ideas are a little bit silly.
Imagine plonking a tape measure, scissors, needle and threads plus plastic bags/materials, buttons and bows on a table and expecting your 5yr old to figure it out.
Have 2 working parents got that much time to spare?
Are GPs the unpaid school helpers?
I think GPs do a heck of a lot for their AC nowadays and not all are in good health but they help financially, physically and often share their home when marriages break down.
Now it's hoped, if parents work, that during school holidays the GPS will step up to the plate to entertain, feed and taxi their GC to and from activities and help with 'assignments' handed out by the children's schools.
This may be ok for some GPs however, it might be too much for others regardless of blood ties and loving their GC.