Partners

Weaving workshops in schools, educational centres and after-school clubs. A unique educational project for children and parents.

The purpose of the project is to offer a workshop that improves children’s ability to relate to each other and empowers them to be creative, communicative and confident. In today’s individualistic society and economic climate it is important to offer ways to bring the community together. Our workshops explore ideas of togetherness from many perspectives, and through many different ways of learning.

The workshops are based on arts and craft activities inspired by weaving. They are delivered to support social, kinesthetic and academic learning.

Social learning: Interaction and creative ideas are encouraged to develop meaningful conversations. Children learn to support each other in many ways, improving cohesion and cooperation in the classroom. The activities are very enjoyable and fun. This relaxed informal atmosphere allows children to learn, have fun, be creative and relax together.

The participants will be encouraged to talk about their culture and traditions in a relaxed and sensitive way should they wish to.



Kinesthetic learning: Little children can improve their spatial awareness through weaving activities. They learn to understand concepts like 'from right to left’, ‘from the beginning to the end’ and ‘in and out’.  Other benefits are: Improvement of fine motor skills, developing confidence through improved kinesthetic skills, developing feelings of wellbeing, understanding of others and the concept of togetherness.

These activities have a huge potential to support disabled children those with communication needs.



Academic learning: Through this creative and innovative work children can simultaneously develop knowledge and enjoyment of many subjects that are taught within the school curriculum, such as history, geography and art and design.

Sessions

There is a choice to book a single session or a three session course (with the possibility to book further follow up sessions).

The single session lasts 1.5 hour (or longer if requested).

The course consists of three individual sessions that are one hour long (longer option also available).

Single Session/Initial Session:

At the beginning of the session a calm relaxed workshop atmosphere is created where everybody can relax and feel able to share ideas. Children can learn from each other and those with similar needs can provide mutual support. It is a space where social learning is done without judgement or stereotyping.



Thematically the course is centred on the notion of early European cultures. Different historical buildings and art works from various countries are presented, depending on the age of the participants. The main theme and the actual model for children’s work is set around pictures from the Czech castle Karlštejn, particularly the ‘lamb’ and ‘angel’. The topic will be discussed with a focus on cross cultural differences and similarities. Other weaving cultures from around the world are also presented.



The process of weaving

1. Participants explore the richness of the environment they live in now or they lived before through memorable items or stories. They can imagine a castle or an interesting building they have visited.

2. They find the material, which expresses this richness, and choose corresponding colours. The freedom to make choices is motivating for small children.



3. They have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the material and weaving tools.

4. They experiment, combine and overlap, then interweave the cotton through their fingers.



5. Everybody tries out the weaving movements on a couple of prepared frames.

6. Warp is installed onto the wooden frame or cardboard. Children are given help with this. The small children interweave through holes in the cardboard and stick on colourful stripes.  Preparation of the design.

7. The next phase involves preparation of the wool for hand weaving, the participants familiarise themselves with the techniques and preparation of the individual roll/skein.

8. The participants start weaving. They focus on the flow rather than if the work is tidy. It tends to be difficult at the beginning but then they become more skilled and find their own rhythm. 



9. The colours are alternated in the sleek weaving. Small children learn to understand how to lay individual stripes and logical alternation of colours.

The programme will be tailored to a group and particular needs of the participants. At the end, the session is reviewed and participants’ strengths are highlighted. If there is an upcoming session available its content is previewed to stimulate ideas.

2. Session

During this session the participants start working on a new design (which is related to the theme introduced in the initial session).

Alternatively, the participants carry on with the work that they started during the first session, and are given the opportunity to share their visions and experiences. Conversation about questions that matter to the participants is encouraged; however the tutors remain sensitive to the dynamic of the group.

3. Session

The third session has a similar content to the second session, or in the case of continuous work, the work developed throughout the previous session is finished.

Diverse perspectives and similarities are discussed. Collective discoveries are shared. In the case of small children, a collective story can be made. The participants (older children and parents) are encouraged to become active members of the community – possibilities are discussed.

About us

Katerina Latalova MSc, MA, BA who co-devised this project is a social scientist and a teacher. Her specialist interest is sociology of education and sociology of the family. She has also worked as a teacher in a variety of educational settings, mainly primary schools. She believes that effective working relationship between staff, pupils and parents are crucial to providing a stimulating learning environment. She has extensive experience in using art to promote children’s creativity and positive self-perception.

Liba Lorinczova is Master of Primary Education with more than 7 years experience in a variety of settings. She currently works as a Special Education Needs Teacher in a Primary School for children with severe learning difficulties. She has studied Tapestry and Art for 4 years (A level) and is able to deliver a high standard of education within this area. She believes that through art children can access the world of the imagination, develop self-esteem, understanding and communication, build up their fine motor skills and have fun.

Zuzana Jungmanova, MgA. is an artist with more than 10 years experience. She has a long-standing interest in creative activities and working with bilingual children. In October 2007, she established the Czech School without Borders, London: originally just as a small arts club for Czech-speaking pre-school children. In 2009, it became awider international project with branches in London, Paris, Berlin, Munich, Brussels and Zurych. In her work, Zuzana explores new possibilities in textile design and interconnecting of fragile details naturally to the material and theme. She searches for new inner links and follows sensitive processing of these in both 2D and 3D. The Threadworks Project

Weaving workshops with children and parents

Parents can be invited to participate in all activities, following agreement with the particular educational institution. Here weaving on wooden frames will be available.

Some parents can feel isolated if they are new to the area or are not confident speaking English. They may feel intimidated by school especially if they come from other countries with a different school system.

Textile art activities have huge potential to support disadvantaged individuals and enhance their involvement in the community. The nature of the activities does not require a good level of English, but differing command of the language and personal differences will be taken into account. Extra support will be offered to anyone who needs it, however, the school can also contribute by providing relevant staff if possible.

The parents have the opportunity to help their children and strengthen their relationship.

The workshops can be booked for any work day on the school premises or in the children’s centre. As soon as we receive the request we are able to arrange a suitable time.

Price:

1 session 1.5 (min)…… £230
3 sessions 1 hour each (min)…. £450
The price includes a complete set of material (wool, cotton, papers, frames…)

There are two qualified tutors and one assistant available.

In terms of length and content, we always tailor the sessions to the needs of the educational institution.


Contact: Katerina Latalova - katerina@czechschool.org.uk