Houses & Buildings - UPHOLSTERER

Kids Furniture - would an upholsterer be bothered?
"While at the Sofa Factory" by Kenn Nesbitt
Car Upholstery: Vinyl or Leather? What would you choose?

Kids Furniture - would an upholsterer be bothered?

Primary Middle

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Numeracy

Cooperative Learning Activity

1. In groups of 3 - 4 students, explore the kids furniture at the Toys R Us website and particularly, the range of chairs for kids.

2.

Brainstorm [look here if you don't know how to brainstorm] and work out a new design for a kid's chair! When answering these questions always use "because"!

A. What fabric would you use?

B. How would it be padded?

C. What colours would you use?

D. How do you think it would be attractive to both parents and child?

E. Would a particular TV "character" be appealing?

3. What price would you put on your chair?

Look at the other chairs on this website and create a graph of the pricing.

Calculate the average pricing and then determine your price for your chair.

4. Show your group's chair and describe its characteristics to the class.

5.

Discuss as a class:

"Kids Furniture - would an upholsterer be bothered?"

"While at the Sofa Factory" by Kenn Nesbitt

Primary Middle

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Literacy

1. Have a look at the Poem: "While at the Sofa Factory"  or listen to While at the Sofa Factory

2. What is so funny about this poem?

3. Make up another verse or another poem along the same theme! 

Car Upholstery: Vinyl or Leather? What would you choose?

Middle  Secondary

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Literacy

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Ethical Understanding

Australian Curriculum Cross Curriculum Priorities: Sustainability Priority

Cooperative Learning Activity

1. Do you have a preference for vinyl or leather in your family car or when you will buy a car? Why? Discuss with a partner - preferably one who has a different preference to yours.

2. Read the following articles with your partner:

Angie's list

Innovations Auto Interiors

3. Draw up a list of pros and cons for each fabric from these articles.

4. Have you thought of other pros and cons that the authors of these articles didn't consider?

5. Discuss as a class the ethics of using animal materials (leather) for use in our cars.

6. Read the following article from The Conversation 22 November 2016  and apply the thinking to car leather.

Is it reasonable to think "Kombucha Leather" could be mass produced?

Should it be called "Leather"?