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Designed by the Professional Learning team at the High Tech High Graduate School of Education.
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Essential Question
What question will guide the project and learning?
Community Partners
What organizations and individuals will collaborate and enhance the learning experience?
Reflection
What opportunities are there for us to reflect on our academic and socio-emotional development?
Assessment
In what ways can we demonstrate what we have learned and how we have grown?
Exhibition
How and who will we celebrate our learning with?
Project Launch
What shared experiences will engage us in the content, skills, and mindsets of the project?
Core Content
What will we need to learn and practice in order to engage in the project?
Critique and Revision
How will opportunities for feedback and refinement be embedded in the project?
Product
What will we make, build, or do that will have an impact on us or the world around us?
Next
What question will guide the project and learning?

(1) How can I use beading techniques to transform a simple piece of fabric into a unique work of art that tells a story?
(2) What are the challenges and solutions I might encounter in creating a balanced and aesthetically pleasing beaded embroidery design for various types of clothing?

High School Grade  Project 5 weeks

Beads & Threads: Crafting Creative Designs

Ximena V
1-pager

Purpose

Through this project, you will engage in a hands-on exploration of beaded embroidery, merging art with craftsmanship to create unique fashion accessories. You'll deepen your understanding of how to convey personal narratives through intricate designs while navigating the technical challenges of beadwork. This journey offers you the opportunity to build resilience, enhance your creative problem-solving skills, and express personal stories through textile art, culminating in a collection that reflects your artistic evolution.

Learning goals

Develop expertise in beaded embroidery by engaging with professional artists who can enhance your craftsmanship through mentorship. Cultivate creativity, patience, and problem-solving skills as you confront and resolve design challenges in your projects. Improve reflective practice through a digital diary or vlog, where ongoing self-assessment and feedback in collaboration with a mentor will refine your technical and artistic abilities.

Products

Throughout the project, focus on creating a series of beaded embroidery pieces, including bikinis, shirts, and keychains, each showcasing different techniques and patterns. Document each step with photographs and detailed descriptions to highlight your progress in design complexity. Conclude the project with a virtual exhibition or showcase where you present your finished pieces to peers, mentors, and community partners, demonstrating the story behind each design and the skills honed during the process.

Launch

Begin by hosting a hands-on exploration session where you experiment with different types of beads and fabrics, discovering the textures, colors, and patterns they can create. Invite your professional beadwork mentor to share an impressive piece from their collection and tell the story behind it, highlighting how design choices make the artwork unique. End the session by brainstorming initial design concepts for your beaded embroidery accessories, focusing on personal stories or inspirations you'd like to convey through your pieces.

Exhibition

Facilitate a gallery event where you display your finished beaded embroidery accessories for peers, teachers, and community members to admire. Provide each attendee with an opportunity to interact with your pieces and listen to your design stories, motivations, and creative processes. Engage participants in a Q&A session where you can discuss the challenges faced and solutions crafted, fostering a dialogue on the artistic potential of beading techniques. Include an interactive booth where guests can try basic beading alongside your guidance, creating a collaborative and enriched experience for all.
Rubric
Competency Progression Rubric Competency-first rubric
Category
Learning Goal
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Craftsmanship and Technique
Mastery of Beaded Embroidery Techniques - Students will demonstrate proficiency in a variety of beading techniques, accurately applying them to create intricate, balanced patterns on different types of fabric.
  • I can accurately apply diverse beading techniques to create intricate and balanced patterns on various fabrics, demonstrating my growing skills and thoughtful selection of materials to convey personal stories through my designs.
  • I can skillfully apply foundational beading techniques to create detailed and balanced patterns, showing an understanding of how different styles and materials can enhance my designs
  • I can also effectively communicate the cultural and personal stories through my choice of colors and patterns.
  • I can apply various beading techniques to create intricate designs that effectively convey both cultural significance and personal narrative
  • My designs demonstrate balanced patterns and precise technique, showcasing my growing mastery and attention to detail in the art of beaded embroidery.
  • I skillfully apply a range of beading techniques to create intricate and balanced patterns on different fabrics, demonstrating my artistic vision and storytelling through well-executed designs.
Storytelling and Cultural Awareness
Personal Narrative Integration - Students will effectively integrate personal stories and cultural understanding into their beaded designs, showcasing a clear connection between their narratives and artistic choices.
  • I can articulate the cultural and personal stories behind my beaded designs, explaining how specific colors, patterns, and materials reflect my personal experiences and the historical significance of beading in various cultures.
  • I can include elements in my beaded designs that reflect my personal story, showing a basic understanding of how cultural significance and personal experiences can be expressed through colors and patterns
  • I create clear connections between my narrative and my artistic choices, even if some parts may need more refinement.
  • I can thoughtfully integrate my personal stories and cultural knowledge into my beaded designs, making intentional choices about colors and patterns to clearly highlight the narratives I am conveying.
  • I can expertly integrate my personal stories and cultural insights into my beaded designs by thoughtfully selecting colors, patterns, and materials that clearly express my narrative and artistic intent
  • My work demonstrates a deep understanding of how beadwork can convey meaning, and I can articulate the connections between my life experiences and the artistic choices in my finished pieces.
Critical Thinking and Creativity
Creative Problem-Solving - Students will exhibit critical thinking and problem-solving skills when encountering design challenges, documenting their process and solutions in their portfolios.
  • I can identify a design challenge while working on my beaded embroidery project and creatively brainstorm at least two possible solutions
  • I document my thought process and chosen solution in my portfolio, explaining how it reflects my artistic vision and enhances my design.
  • I can identify and articulate design challenges I encounter during my beading projects, explore multiple approaches to solve these challenges, and document the steps I take and the results in my portfolio to reflect my problem-solving process.
  • I can effectively identify and navigate design challenges by exploring different beading techniques and adapting my approach when necessary
  • I document my problem-solving process in my portfolio, highlighting the solutions I develop and how they enhance my creative patterns and storytelling through my embroidery projects.
  • I can creatively solve design challenges in my beaded embroidery project by experimenting with different techniques and materials, then documenting my problem-solving process and solutions in my portfolio to show how I overcome obstacles and improve my designs.
Communication and Collaboration
Interactive Exhibition and Communication - Students will successfully curate a public exhibition of their work, articulating their creative process and design intent, and encouraging viewer engagement and feedback.
  • I can confidently set up my beaded embroidery showcase, clearly communicating the story and techniques behind each piece, and actively engage visitors by encouraging them to share feedback and try some beading activities themselves.
  • I can set up my exhibit by clearly presenting my beaded embroidery pieces with accompanying stories or reflections, and I engage viewers by explaining my creative process and design ideas
  • I invite feedback and questions, showing openness to different perspectives and demonstrating effective communication skills.
  • I can confidently set up and curate an exhibition by displaying my beaded embroidery pieces with clear stories and reflections, engage visitors through interactive stations, and document viewer feedback to enhance my understanding and presentation skills.
  • I can confidently organize and present an engaging exhibition of my beaded embroidery pieces to an audience, clearly explaining the creative journey and personal narratives behind each item
  • I facilitate viewer interaction and gather constructive feedback, while encouraging participation in hands-on beading activities, demonstrating my ability to communicate effectively and collaborate with my community.
Self-Reflection and Documentation
Visual Portfolio Documentation - Students will maintain a comprehensive visual portfolio that documents their design drafts, progress, and reflections, illustrating their learning journey and artistic growth over time.
  • I can create a visual portfolio that includes clear photographs of my beaded embroidery designs at different stages, along with detailed reflections on the challenges I faced and how I solved them, providing insights into my artistic growth and design evolution throughout the project.
  • I can create a visual portfolio that mostly captures my design drafts and progress by including a variety of images showing different stages of my work, and I reflect on the challenges and successes I encountered, demonstrating a growing understanding of the beading techniques and my artistic journey.
  • I can effectively maintain a visual portfolio that includes my design drafts, progress photos, and reflections, showcasing how my skills and techniques in beaded embroidery have developed
  • I am able to illustrate my learning journey, consciously highlighting how I have overcome challenges and integrated personal narratives into my designs.
  • I can create a comprehensive visual portfolio that includes detailed design drafts, progress photos, and reflective notes, illustrating my learning journey and the evolution of my beading skills over time.
Learning Journey
Empathize
You will research various beading techniques and cultural significance by interviewing a professional beadwork artist, exploring online resources, and analyzing existing designs to gain deep insights and inspire your creative journey.
Days 1 - 3
Milestone Activities
Document Beading Insights
Deliverable

On Day 3 you document the beading research gathered from interviews, observations, and mentor conversations. Produce interview notes from at least three conversations, observation field notes, an empathy map, and a journey map to surface user needs and design implications for your beaded embroidery pieces.

No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Define
You will identify and synthesize key insights from your research on cultural significance and beading techniques to develop a focused problem statement for your design challenge, setting the stage for innovative and culturally resonant beaded embroidery ideas.
Days 4 - 6
Milestone Activities
Problem Definition Portfolio
Deliverable

You will synthesize insights from your cultural significance research and beadwork techniques to shape a focused design challenge. Produce a POV statement, develop How Might We questions, build user persona profiles, and create a problem tree or systems map that frames your beaded embroidery project for meaningful, culturally resonant designs.

No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Ideate
You will brainstorm a variety of beading techniques and design ideas, sketch potential patterns, and explore different color palettes that could be used to convey stories through your beaded embroidery on clothing.
Days 7 - 10
Milestone Activities
Concept Sketches & Rationale
Deliverable

Document three beading concept ideas for your embroidered accessories. Create concept sketches or storyboards that explore patterns, color palettes, and techniques, and fill a feasibility/impact matrix that maps each concept to time, skill, and potential wear. Choose your top three concepts and write a concise rationale that connects each idea to the personal story or message you aim to convey, including notes from any mentor feedback or early testing.

No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Prototype
You will construct scaled versions of your beaded embroidery designs by experimenting with fabric, bead sizes, and stitching techniques to test their visual impact and usability while gathering feedback from peers and mentors on your prototypes' effectiveness.
Days 11 - 15
Milestone Activities
Beading Testing Documentation
Deliverable

Prepare a testing package that describes your protocol for evaluating prototypes with peers or mentors. Include a testing plan, synthesized user feedback with key quotes or observations, and revision decisions with rationale based on that feedback.

No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Test/Present
You will showcase your finished beaded embroidery pieces in a 'Beads & Threads Showcase' event, demonstrating techniques and stories behind each design, while gathering feedback and insights from attendees to refine your craft further.
Days 16 - 20
Milestone Activities
Beaded Embroidery Showcase
Assessment

Present your final collection of beaded embroidery pieces to an authentic audience of peers, mentors, and community partners. Share design stories, techniques, and the learning journey behind each piece, while gathering feedback to refine your craft and plan next steps.

No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Plan
Week 1
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Phase
Empathize
Define
Activities
Explore Beading Techniques and Textures
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Draft Bead Embroidery Concepts and Practice
Project Work 60m
Document Beading Insights
Deliverable
Study Beading Techniques and Cultural Context
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Preparation
Week 2
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Phase
Define
Ideate
Activities
Draft Problem Definition and Mood Boards
Project Work 60m
Problem Definition Portfolio
Deliverable
Exploring Beadwork Techniques and Tools
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Draft Color Palettes and Motifs
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Preparation
Week 3
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Phase
Ideate
Prototype
Activities
Prototype Beaded Embroidery on Fabrics
Project Work 60m
Concept Sketches & Rationale
Deliverable
Explore Bead Types and Fabric Interactions
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Beadwork Pattern Reading and Planning
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Preparation
Week 4
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
Day 16
Phase
Prototype
Test/Present
Activities
Prototype Bead Stitching on Test Garment
Project Work 60m
Peer Feedback and Design Iteration
Project Work 60m
Beading Testing Documentation
Deliverable
Exploring Bead Stitch Techniques for Textiles
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Preparation
Week 5
Day 17
Day 18
Day 19
Day 20
Phase
Test/Present
Activities
Design Sketching and Palette Planning
Project Work 45m
Fabric Prep and Bead Compatibility
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Prototype Swatches: Apply and Iterate
Project Work 45m
Beaded Embroidery Showcase
Assessment
Preparation
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