The History of Shoes STEM Activity
In the 90s, when it came to sources of inspiration for styling your wardrobe, Carrie Bradshaw could be considered second to none.
But today, stroll down the street, or attend a kid’s birthday party, and you’ll soon observe who the real leaders of style are.
Shoes. Handbags. Jewelled rings. Flowing tule dresses. Sparkly tops. And glitter headbands.
You might think these items belong at a runway show, but you’d be somewhat mistaken.
Young girls are confidently pulling together outfits that would leave Carrie in the dust.
The items are rummaged from parents’ wardrobes, obtained at the local thrift store, and they are worn by the next generation of style icons with unwavering confidence.
Fashion is a way to express yourself. And if it’s the kind of day when you wake up and feel that a pink tutu should be accompanied by bejewelled sneakers and a cocktail ring… then, you rock it girl!
But behind the sequins and threads, and the expression of self, there’s an opportunity to teach girls about the history of fashion, and the science behind the glam.
An activity to do at home
The team at Primary + STEM have identified an activity by Google Arts & Culture that you can do at home.
The activity is called ‘Learn Anywhere: Fashion and Shoe Design‘ and has been designed to take kids on an exciting journey through the exciting world of shoes.
To complete the activity, you’ll need access to a tablet, computer, or smartphone connected to the internet.
The activity sheet contains three separate activities to complete:
- Fashion and Art
- Science and Craftmanship
- Extra Discovery
Each will take you around 45 minutes to complete.
Recommended materials to have on hand to complete the activities include:
- Scrap paper
- Plasticine or modelling clay
- Brush and paint
- Scissors
- Notepad
- Pens and pencils
- Tablet or computer
As you work your way through the activity, kids will learn about the history of shoes, the artistry and craft of shoemaking, and be introduced to the famous shoe designer Salvatore Ferragamo (who has a lot to answer for when it comes to sore feet from a night out in heels!!)
The activity forms part of the Primary + STEM team’s curated selection of Teaching Resources which have been mapped to the Victorian education curriculum.
You can find over a hundred STEM activities on the Primary + STEM website.
Info for teachers
The activity which we introduced above – Learn Anywhere: Fashion and Shoe Design – is from the Google Arts & Culture series. It is a set of resources including stories and lesson plans from around the world that showcases the “stories behind what we wear”.
This activity has been mapped to the Victorian curriculum:
- Learning area: F-10: Design and Technologies
- Curriculum code: Design & Technologies > Levels 3 and 4 > Technologies and Society > VCDSTS023; Design & Technologies > Levels 5 and 6 > Technologies and Society > VCDSTS033
- Grade level: 3, 4, 5, 6
Image credit
Photo by CoWomen