Dye Like a Natural: Exploring Natural Dyes

Alex Ever

Students will explore the full dye-making process as they turn ingredients like turmeric, beet root, and rose petal into rich, colorful fabric arts.

In this residency, science and art meet hand-in-hand with hands-on activities that allow students to let their curiosity roam free! Working together, students will explore the potential of materials they can find in their backyard by making their own dye vats and creating various dye swatches. They will learn the basics of the natural dye process, including the methods that were used long before synthetic dyes came along.

Final Product
Students will have their own unique dyed pennants that will be strung together as decorative bunting to showcase their various natural dye experiments.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will gain an appreciation of nature as we explore and reflect upon its potential in art-making
• Students will learn how to safely navigate an active lab setting
• Students will gain experience with collaborative art-making
• Students will learn value and importance of the artistic process through risk-taking and experimentation
• Students will learn about the history of natural dyes before synthetic dyes were used

Suggested Grades

• Best suited for grades 3 and older.
• Can be modified for grades K-2.

Pricing Breakdown

• 4 visits at 45 minutes each
• Prep hours: 1.5 hour per classroom
• Materials: $2.00 per student
• Travel from Eugene