Assessing swimsuit fabric—what's best?

What's in your fabric? Crude oil is a mix of hydrocarbons that can be processed to give us petrochemicals including synthetic alternatives to natural materials (rubber) and unique materials such as nylon.

Rochelle Jenkins' second graders at Augusta Elementary did the Petrochemical Fabric Test as part of a STEM program. Jenkins's students have been working on clothing that helps to hold in heat and protect the body against elements. She said, "I provided the students with fabric samples and we discussed what material would be best for a bathing suit. We compared and contrasted the materials, using the droppers with water and chlorine, discussing the pros and cons about each sample. The students loved this activity."

The class also discussed what materials a fire fighter may need to wear to protect his body. "We discussed if the material was stretchy, absorbent, light-weight, etc."

The students pretended to be fashion designers and they worked in small groups to draw pictures of swimsuit designs. Jenkins also had the students write an opinion paragraph about why their swimsuit would be the best investment for a company.