Design Technology - Cleopatra Cushions (Lower Key Stage 2)

Cleopatra Cushions is a Design Technology unit of work aimed primarily at children aged 7-9.
Design and make a decorative cushion to be sold in the British Museum Gift Shop.
The package provides the medium-term plan, six lessons (each lesson has a MS Powerpoint presentation). Any additional resources are provided as PDFs or as Powerpoint Presentations. This unit of work fulfils the National Curriculum (England) Design Technology requirements for this age group in the following strands of learning:
• Materials & Textiles

In this unit children join textile pieces to create both a cushion and a cushion cover. Children investigate different kinds of cushions and their purpose, and they learn that cushions can be designed to provide support and to be decorative. They build on previous learning about the running stitch and different embroidery techniques that are used to decorate fabrics.
They are introduced to the backstitch technique and apply this skill when learning about different textile fastenings and when sewing a button and matching buttonhole.
Using the design brief and specifications, they design a cushion cover based on the iconic image of Queen Cleopatra. They use learnt techniques to make a cushion and a decorative cushion cover following the designs that they made. As part of the evaluation, children create an online shopping page for the cushion product and also present their product in a Dragon’s Den simulation.

This knowledge, skills and understanding is delivered through the following six sessions:

1. IDEA Task 1 – Investigating Cushions & Focused Practical Task 1 – Decorative Stitching
2. IDEA Task 2 – Investigating Fastenings & Focused Practical Task 2 – Buttons & Buttonholes
3. Focused Practical Task 3 – Making a Cushion
4. Cushion Designer (Designing the Cushion Cover)
5. Cushion Maker (Making the Cushion Cover)
6. Evaluating the Cushion Product