Grade 1 Creative Arts Drawing and decoration – Fabric decoration Notes

• Children will name simple shapes and patterns they want on fabric (dots, lines, flowers, animals).
• Children will decorate a small piece of cloth using safe tools (finger paint, stamps, crayons).
• Children will talk about their decoration and explain one thing they like (builds vocabulary & confidence).

• Small cloth scraps (old kitenge, cotton, handkerchief) — about 10 cm × 10 cm
• Non-toxic fabric paint or poster paint, washable crayons, markers
• Sponges, potatoes (cut for stamps), leaves, bottle caps — for print making
• Glue (child-safe), buttons, beads, sequins for decoration
• Brushes, small bowls of water, paper to protect tables, apron or old shirt

1. Talk and choose: Show small cloth pieces. Ask children what they want to draw — a flower, sun, or animal.
2. Make stamps: Cut a potato or use a bottle cap. Dip in paint and press on cloth to make dots and shapes. (Demonstrate once.)
3. Finger painting: Let children use fingers to draw simple shapes—big circles for sun, little dots for flowers.
4. Leaf printing: Collect a big leaf, paint one side and press onto cloth to make a pattern. Children love the texture.
5. Decorate with buttons/beads: Glue buttons in a line for a border or make a button flower (teacher helps with glue).
6. Show and tell: Each child shows their cloth and says one sentence: “This is a sun. I used yellow.”

• Work in small groups (4–6 children). Give each child a cloth scrap.
• Use non-toxic paints and washable materials. Teacher/adult supervises glue and scissors.
• Put paper under the cloth to protect tables. Keep wet wipes or cloths for cleaning hands.

• Observe each child: Can they make a shape? Do they join the activity? Can they name a color or shape?
• Use a simple checklist: tried painting, used a stamp, talked about their work.

• Make bookmarks: cut painted cloth into strips, glue to cardboard for a colourful bookmark.
• Take home and tell family what you made. Parents can display the child’s fabric in the home.

Keep instructions in short sentences. Demonstrate once, then let children try. Praise effort: “Good choice of colour!” Encourage sharing materials.