unreasonable school project?

I’m hoping I’m up to it now Lilylilo as I’m committed to doing what she has chosen to do.
I don’t want to make her unhappy by complaining at this stage, though I will see if d-in -l will pass on a message to the teacher pointing out it’s difficulty when dgd takes it in to school. Teacher might bear it in mind for the next time

Also I'm sure the teacher has already tried it out and possibly done it successfully in the past!

It sounds like a lovely project to me with ample time to complete, well done that teacher for finding some exciting topic for homework, so much better for children and such fun.

This teacher has come across this stupid project for a 5 yr. old in some educational guide. I bet this teacher would not have time to do this her/himself!
I would be up at this school, making a fuss.

Three weeks sounds like ample time to do that?

Though if you feel it’s above you, simply tell the parents no.

Well, I'm sure this one is suitable for your age group, anxiousgran

PECS it is a project to be completed with 3 weeks notice and has to be in school the Monday before half term.
Sorry I can't post the flyer as Dgd has taken it home with her.
I don't think half termly projects are unreasonable, as long as they are age appropriate.

Can I clarify..was it a half term i.e 6 week project or to be done overnight? My DGCs have had 1/2 term projects : e.g create a volcano to link with geog. learning in class. The results, which I saw as I was on supply when they were due in, were wonderful! From Lego, paper mache, clay, paper sculpture, recycled stuff etc. Better than pages of worksheets!

We have primary school teachers in the family/friendship group. No way on earth would any of them set a 'homework' task like this.

Oh come on...give primary school teachers a break, they're dammed if they give homework and dammed if they don't. The task might sound a bit complicated on first reading but it's really quite simple to make something from very little. As others have suggested...old net curtains, pillow slips, carrier bags etc etc.Does that really require much 'sourcing'? It's actually encouraging a bit of inventiveness and in our very 'throw -away' society really isn't 'stupid'at all.

anxiousgran I'm not surprised you're worried by this. I would be having sleepless night too. How absolutely ridiculous to set a project that will inevitably mean parents/carers will have to do most of the sourcing of ideas and materials and most of the work.

People are busy enough these days just trying to do the basics without having stupid tasks like this to do. I would be inclined to query it (in the nicest possible way!).

meant ‘didn’t’ and ‘carers’!

I remember making a skirt for myself when I was about 8 - and I wore it quite a lot. However, we did do this in school as we had sewing lessons every Wednesday afternoon.

I would not have been in the slightest bit interested when I was 5 - although I did love having something new to wear that my mother had 'run up' on her old Singer.

anxiousgran. WhenI read your first post I assumed your GD was at least a teenager.I used to teach 5/6 year olds and wouldn’ dream of setting such challenging home work for them-and their parents/careers. It seems more suitable for someone specialising in textiles .I know pressures are so much greater now than when I was teaching,but that is going too far.

Sorry, DGD is 11, 12 this year.

DGD has just turned a skirt that was too small for her into a pair of trousers, but she is 12, loves sewing, has been sewing for about 5 years and now has her own full size sewing machine. At 5 she was just learning to use a needle and making simple samplers.

you could get an old dress from a charity shop. and let your gd stick pieces of rags or glitter on... she could go as cinderella in rags.........

anxiousgran - I shall look out for 'Clothes Recycling for Infants'!

Crazy for a 5 year old - how many could even begin to do this without a parent helping at every stage, and doing the vast majority of it?

I sometimes think teachers set projects like this to punish parents for inflicting their children on them. ?

Hi
100% agree thats a lot for a 5 year old sounds more like a gcse project!
Im a professional craft artist and often have to devise crafts for little ones heres my ideas to get you through this.
Tutus can be made quickly with a piece of elastic tied in a waist band and the fabric can be notted round no sewing needed.. you could use, plastic bags, dress net, ribbon combo anything that doesn't fray really,
Old toy (or cheap new we wont tell ;) ) fairy wings are great to decoupage on with old fabric and can be bent in lots of ways,
theres a great website called cut out and keep which is always a good source of ideas!
The tutu came from there actually
www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/no-sew-tutu-3

Good luck try not to stress

Homework Lifesavers!

Thanks for all the posts and ideas. I should collect all your ideas and put them in a book.

The humble pillowcase features heavily in home learning projects:

Greek day: cut arm and head hole and add gold belt or ribbon

Roman day: as above

Victorian day: arm and head hole: make it look sooty = chimney sweep.

Machine tie dying is fun (and uses up the dreaded loom bands that are always lying around) Pillowcase: randomly positioned loom bands (or elastic bands or hair bands or strink) & machine die from wilkos = tie died pillowcase, & cut arm and head holes for tunic and maybe add a belt

Ok here's what I would do as a retired primary teacher.
1.Start her looking at her own clothes discussing what they are made of, then move on to other people's clothes.
2.Collect some old clothes that don't fit anymore. Some of hers and some other peoples.
3. Let her try them on and then discuss what else they could become.
Sleeves of too small jumpers make hats/leg warmers. Cardigan from an adult will make her a coat if sleeves are shortened. Adults T-shirt might be a dress.
She might come up with her own ideas and just need a little help making things fit.

this homework is getting ridiculous i thought as i was reading it oh this will be for gcse not a five year old let her make a cinderella dress she can stick on sequins ribbons etc