TT: Thematic Unit: Clothes (Infants)

I'm back again with another thematic unit, this time based on the topic of clothes. I used this thematic unit in Senior Infants but no doubt it could be adapted for use with Junior Infants also. I have tried to include as many useful resources as possible - I hope you find it helpful!

Geography: Clothes from Around the World

Discuss clothes we wear for special occasions and when and where these occasions might be. Talk about the clothes they wear in other countries for special occasions. Follow Teddy on Tour (you can download it when you sign in here) on his visit to some countries to find out all about the clothes they wear:     

Teddy on tour from SeniorInfants

Have some children try on a sari (piece of material or a scarf), a furry coat and a kilt (if possible) and see if they can remember which country they are worn in.

Write the country names under these pictures (with help from the board!) and colour them in beautiful bright colours!

History: Growing and Changing

Baby paper doll             Child paper doll

Talk about how different the clothes they wear now are to the clothes they wore as babies. Discuss why they don't wear the same things babies/adults wear. Dress the paper dolls (above) on the board (baby, child, adult) using paper doll clothes you can find online. 

Adult paper doll       Adult dolls clothes

Baby clothes      Child's clothes

Have the children draw pictures of a child, baby and adult and the clothes they would wear. Label  appropriately.

Science: Materials
Play a game (preferably in a PE hall, outside or in another spacious area) where they must touch different materials called out e.g. wood, plastic, metal, glass, cloth, touch something smooth, soft, rough, that can tear, that won’t tear, etc. Look at some clothing items: a woolly jumper, leather runner, cotton t-shirt, furry collar, feather filled jacket, etc. and discuss whether the material is hard, soft, rough, smooth, waterproof, would it tear, etc. Have them walk to the picture of the animal/plant (laid out on the floor of the PE hall) that the material/piece of clothing was made from. After you have discussed all this and they have identified the correct animal/plant for all objects, hold up the items one at a time and have them run to the correct picture. If they run to the wrong one, they are out. 

Art: Paper Dolls
Discuss what kinds of clothes they might draw/stick onto their paper doll templates. Have them design trousers, t-shirts, jumpers, dresses, etc. for them and stick on buttons and hair to bring them to life.

English: Poem: Put on your Coat

Stuff an arm 

into each sleeve,

put on your coat

before you leave.

Zip the zipper

right to the top,

and cover your head

whenever rain drops.

James Hörner

Gaeilge: Éadaí agus 'Cóchailín Dearg'
Do some drama based on the story 'Cóchailín Dearg'. Dress a group of the children up in costumes as the various characters using a red cloak, wolf ears on a hairband, showercap, axe, apron and hat. These children can then act out the script as it is being read. Keep repeating the story until every child had a chance to act out the story (you can also use this activity to practice 'cé hé seo?' before you start each drama). Gradually they should started to join in with the story and understand various words in the script.

http://students.ou.edu/J/Curtis.N.Johnston-1/red_riding_hood.jpg

Here is my script:

An Cochaillín Dearg:

Bhí an Cocaillín Dearg sa bhaile. D'fhag sí slán le Mamaí agus le Daidí. Chuaigh sí go dtí an choill. Bhuail si leis an Mac Tíre. Bhí scanradh uirthi roimh an Mhac Tíre. Rith sí go dtí teach a seanmhathair. Chonaic sí a seanmhathair. (All join in) 'Oh, feach ar do shuile! Feach ar do chluasa! Feach ar do fhiacla!' An Mac Tíre a bhí ann! Rith sí amach an doras. Tháinig an gearrthóir adhmaid agus maraigh sé an mac tíre. Bhi an Mac Tíre marbh agus bhí áthas an domhain ar gach duine eile!

If you have any other ideas on how to tie the theme of clothes in with any other subjects, feel free to comment below. Happy Teaching!