The clothes people wear
The purpose of this section is for children to become aware of what clothes might tell us about the person wearing them. Examples are given in pictures of clothes to suit the typical weather found in Ireland. Children are asked to consider why people choose to wear certain kinds of clothes. They learn that clothes can tell others when people belong to a certain sports clubs for example. Children see that clothes can also help us identify people's occupations.
Activity: colour in clothing items
Uniforms and work clothes are explained through the use of pictures. Children see occupations such as the garda, chef, the fisherman, mechanic and nurse and see the particular clothing worn by each.
Possible extension tasks: The children could be asked to bring examples of clothes which show that they belong to a certain group such as a local sports team, They might also bring in items used for certain activities-swimwear, dancing shoes etc.
Activities: This section has some drag and drop tasks as well as a picture and occupation matching task.
Further Information for Teachers
Sports and sportswear: Most sports teams wear identical clothes, often referred to as a team strip, in order to easily distinguish between the members of theirs and the opposing team. The style of clothing is usually dictated by the nature of the physical activity. Children might notice that in the case of football, shorts are cooler and easier to run in, than for example a track suit. Children might be shown that nowadays long socks with padded soles are more comfortable and hold shin guards in place and jerseys are more recently made with grip resistant fabric, to reduce the likelihood of been held by an opponent.
In recent years there has been a greater emphasis on the comfort of clothes in everyday life and with it has come the development of fashionable sports and leisurewear. Sportswear, such as runners and tracksuits, has become so popular that it is no longer just for use when participating in sporting activities. In today's modern society adults and children alike tend to opt for the comfort of sports-type clothing rather than more formal clothing such as a dress or a suit for a casual day-to-day look.
Different Jobs, different clothes: Uniforms and Work Clothes
Develop this section further so that children can study a variety of occupations and note the clothing associated with each. Examples: chef; gardaí; soldiers; bank clerks; nurse; builder; shop, restaurant and hotel staff.
Oral work: Help children to describe what people wear.
Description of Gardaí uniform:
Boots
Utility belt to hold items of equipment
Fluorescent jacket
Navy Jacket and Trousers
Light Blue Shirt
Navy Tie
Peaked Cap with badge
Draw attention to the fact that people may not wear a uniform per se, yet their clothes can provide clues as to the type of job they do.
Fishermen: in the past fishermen's clothing were all made from natural fabrics which were very heavy when wet and also did not keep out the cold when wet. With the development of man-made fabrics around the 1950s, clothes could be made a lot lighter, warmer and more waterproof, and so fishermen became a lot warmer when working at sea.
Farmers: Ireland is traditionally an agricultural country. Although today agriculture accounts for little over 10% of the country's economy many people continue to farm the land, some on a part-time basis. In late 19th and early 20th centuries, most farmers wore similar outfits to one another: trousers or breeches, sometimes with braces, a shirt, a flat cap, a long heavy coat and wellington boots. Today many older farmers still wear this standard outfit most days of the week, with a good suit kept for Sundays or special outings. Younger farmers today tend to wear a more casual form of clothing specially designed for out-door use such as jeans, shop-bought jumpers, fleece or waxed waterproof jackets and body liners. Wellington boots remain the most popular form of footwear for all farmers.