Activity - In the Classroom

Grade Levels: 4-8

Illinois Standards:
Applications of Learning:
*Communicating by expressing and interpreting information and ideas.
*Working on Teams by learning and contributing productively as individuals and as members of groups.
*Making Connections by recognizing and applying connections of important information and ideas within and among learning areas.
Language Arts: Goal 4 A, B
4A. Listen effectively in formal and informal situations.
4B. Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.
Science - Goal 11 A.2a-e,
2a-Formulate questions on a specific science topic and choose the steps needed to answer the questions.
2b-Collect data for investigations using scientific process skills including observing, estimating and measuring.
2c-Construct charts and visualizations to display data.
2d-Use data to produce reasonable explanations.
2e-Report and display the results of individual and group investigations
Science - Goal 13.A.2.b,
Explain why similar investigations may not produce similar results.
Social Studies - Goal 16.E.2a,
Identify environmental factors that drew settlers to the state and region.
Art - 26.B.2d Visual Arts,
Demonstrate knowledge and skills to create works of visual art using problem solving, observing, designing, sketching and constructing.

Objectives:

• Dyeing agents can be extracted from plants.
• Different plants, mordants and fabrics can be tested for dyeing capability.

Vocabulary:

Mordant - Mordants are used to fix the dye to the fabric. They are often inorganic salts or oxides which are absorbed by the fabric. The French word mordant means "to bite'.

Background:

Many plant parts are used to make dye baths: leaves, nuts, fruits, galls, bark, roots, and flowers. These can be gathered throughout the year and dried or frozen for later use, however fresh will usually give the best results. For a classroom activity it is suggested you use materials that can be boiled then stored in the refrigerator and used cold.

Color becomes darker if fabric is boiled in dye bath or it sits overnight in the bath.

A good test for dyes from plants is if it stains your hands or kitchen counter when worked with, it will provide a satisfactory dye in a cold bath.

Mordants fix the color, but if the fabric is for decorative purposes and will not be washed, a mordant is not needed. Mordants combine chemically with the color to dye the fabric. Depending on mordant use, the colors may vary. There are many mordants only the easiest to use in school are included here. Alum, alum and cream of tartar, and vinegar are good mordants. There are two types of alum, the grocery story variety is fine for this activity.

*alum - potassium aluminum sulfate - photography store, better for fixing dye
*alum - ammonium alum - grocery store - will work for classroom use
*cream of tartar - potassium hydrogentratrate
*vinegar - acetic acid

Fabrics are often soaked in mordants for up to several days. For classroom use they can be added to the dye bath much as is done when dyeing Easter eggs.

Wool is one of the best fabrics to use, but for classroom use cotton or cotton blends are most accessible. Be sure the material has been prewashed and rinsed to remove any chemicals added during manufacturing. Even twine should be rinsed before dyeing. The natural fibers of wool or cotton will take the dye better than those with polyester added.

It is best to have the fabric wet when it enters the dye bath. Wet fabric, but squeeze out excess water. If there is too much extra water it will dilute the dye. After dyeing, rinse the fabric in cold water until the water comes out clear. The fabric is now "color fast" and color will not wash out. During this process some colors will change, it may lighten or even rinse out completely.

Most colors obtained will be earth tones, yellow is the most common in nature.

The following chart will help you get started, it includes common, easy to find materials for making a dye bath, easily obtained in the grocery store, as well as plant material from yards, gardens, etc. Remember collecting is not permitted in any state or federal park or historic site and stripping bark and digging roots may kill the plants in your yard or garden.

Plant Chart

PLANTS	COLOR	MORDANT
Blackberry - fruit	purple	alum
Black walnut - hulls	dark brown, black	no mordant
Blueberry - fruit	purple	alum
Bur oak - leaves, bark, acorns	brown	no mordant
dock - roots	dark yellow	alum
leaves, sunny side of tree	assorted	alum
goldenrod- flowers	yellow	alum
marigold - flowers	yellow	alum
mint - leaves	light yellow	alum
privet - leaves	yellow	alum
poplar - leaves	lime yellow	alum
red onion skin	greenish-yellow	alum/vinegar
rhubarb - stalk	pink	alum
strawberry - fruit	pink	alum/vinegar
sunflower - petals	yellow	alum
tea - leaves	tan - brown	no mordant
white onion - skin	yellow -orange	alum

Materials:

For each student-

1 piece of fabric 40 cm x 10 cm or wool yarn or cotton twine - student materials will depend on the end product - cotton twine, strips of cotton polyester sheets (hotels often give away old sheets) or tee shirts, or wool yarn.
Student Test Sheet
**Students should wear old clothing, bring a garbage bag or old shirt for a smock to cover good clothing.

Classroom supplies:

plant materials to make dye bath* see list
enamel pan to boil plant material
water, to make about a gallon of dye; tap water will work for classroom use
mordants needed for plant selected -
(5% of the weight of the fabric is suggested for cotton/cotton blends, a 5 ml/1 teaspoon will work for classroom purposes)
measuring spoons
plastic spoons or coffee stirs
newspaper, paper towels, rags for drying and cleanup
plastic containers to hold dye bath - salad containers from fast food/grocery store work well
tongs, one per group
strainer
jar with top to store dye, one for each color if testing more than one

Safety:

*DYE BATH - you will need to decide if you have a safe way to boil the plant materials at school, if not, have students prepare plant materials. Then you or a parent helper can take them home to boil. Store in a covered jar, in the refrigerator. Students can safely work with the cold dye bath. Groups of students can prepare different materials so several dyes can be tested at the same time.

Procedure:

Students can gather raw materials and soak plant parts. The teacher will decide the safest way and place to boil the dye bath (see safety note). Several dyes can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator. This allows groups to test different dyes and/or fabrics.

Students:
1. Pour dye into flat plastic container
2. Measure and add mordant to dye bath. Stir to mix.
3. Place the fabric or twine in the cold water to wet it thoroughly. Knots can be made in fabric strips for tie-dye effect.
4. Remove from cold water and squeeze out excess water.
5. Place material in dye bath.
6. Leave in the bath for predetermined time - this will vary according to dye, material, or test conducted, but leaving it in overnight will give the deepest color.
7. Remove fabric/twine from dye bath and place in cold water rinse. NOTE: if the item dyed is not going to be washed, it does not need a cold water rinse.
8. Place material on newspapers, paper towels, or rags to dry. You may want to cover newspaper with a layer of other clean material so ink is not absorbed into fabric.
9. When dry, complete student activity chart, compare and discuss, then use for projects such as weaving, necklaces, etc. If tie-dye was done, undo the knots after drying.

Comments
Dyeing with natural materials is not an exact science. Many factors can affect the outcome and the same plant may yield slightly different results depending on location of plant, season collected, etc. Experiment, keep records, and enjoy!