Explore needle felting
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use needle felting to add to my arpillera.
Key learning points
- Felting is a process where wool fibres are bonded by agitating them.
- To use a felting tool safely, ensure fingers and eyes are well protected.
- Artists can layer and blend wisps of wool to create different felted effects.
Keywords
Felting - the process of bonding wool fibres together using agitation
Wisp - a small amount of wool fibres
Layering - placing multiple wisps of wool on top of each other to build thickness, strength, and design
Blending - the process of mixing different colours of wool fibres to create new colours, textures or effects
Common misconception
Needle felting tools are easy to use without considering safety.
Remind pupils that felting needles are extremely sharp. They should be used with a high consideration of safety, particularly ensuring fingers and eyes are protected.
Teacher tip
For this lesson, pupils should spend some time discussing and practicing how to use felting needles safely. Protective eyewear, finger guards and tools to hold multiple needles can also be used at the teacher's discretion. Pupils should be supervised at all times to ansure safe practices.
Equipment
felting needles plus spares incase of breakage, felting mats, wool tops, synthetic wool squares
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions.
A shape or pattern you can trace around.
Art on fabric which tells the story of war or conflict.
Pieces of fabric cut into shapes and sewn onto another fabric.
A piece of fabric to practise on.
Q2.One way to refine your technique is to practise your stitches on a .
Q3.When finishing a piece of thread, you should __________ it through previous stitches.
Q4.Match the stitch with its description.
Used to sew around edges
Simple back-and-forth stitch
Creates a raised texture
Q5.Of these descriptions which best describes an arpillera?
Q6.Put the process of making a French knot in order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which item is NOT needed to begin felting?
Q2.What is the primary purpose of a felting needle?
Q3.Using too much wool in one go can the needle.
Q4.To create layering in needle felting, you should add wisps of wool at a time.
Q5.Match the keywords with their definitions.
a small amount of wool fibres
the process of bonding wool fibres together using agitation
placing multiple wisps of wool on top of each other
the process of mixing different colours of wool fibres
Q6.What is one way to enhance the detail in your felting project?
To help you plan your 6 art and design lesson on: Explore needle felting, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 art and design lesson on: Explore needle felting, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 art and design lessons from the War and conflict in art: textiles unit, dive into the full primary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.