Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1 / SSS 1)
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 9
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Garment Making
Curriculum Theme: Trade
Previous Lesson: Seams: Seam Finishes And Edge Neatening.
Topic: DISPOSAL OR ARRANGEMENT OF FULLNESS
Subject Matter: Gathers, Darts, Pleats, Methods of arranging fullness

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Define fullness in garment making.
Explain what gathers, darts, and pleats are.
State various methods of arranging fullness.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the importance of controlling fullness in garment design.
Show interest in creating different types of fullness in garments.

Psychomotor Domain:

Make samples of gathers on fabric.
Form basic darts on fabric.
Create simple pleats on fabric samples.

Collaborate with peers during practical activities.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for Basic Technology (JSS) / Trade Subjects (SSS)
State Unified Scheme of Work for Garment Making (SSS 1)
Garment Making for Senior Secondary Schools by A.O. Okoro

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Fabric samples
Sewing needles
Thread
Scissors
Measuring tape
Tailor’s chalk

Rationale for the Lesson

Understanding how to dispose or arrange fullness helps pupils create well-fitted and stylish garments. This skill is important for designing clothes that are both comfortable and appealing to wear.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils should have basic knowledge of garment construction and the proper handling of sewing tools and equipment.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

DISPOSAL OR ARRANGEMENT OF FULLNESS

Introduction to Fullness

Fullness in garment making refers to the extra fabric volume incorporated into a design to create shape, ease, or decorative effects. This extra fabric must be controlled to fit the body or to achieve a desired style.

Gathers

Gathers are a method of controlling fullness by drawing a longer piece of fabric into a shorter space, creating small, soft folds. They are commonly used at waistlines, cuffs, necklines, and yokes to add decorative volume.

Methods of creating gathers include:

Hand gathering (using running stitches)
Machine gathering (using a long stitch length and pulling threads)
Using elastic thread or elastic bands

Darts

Darts are V-shaped folds sewn into fabric to remove excess fullness and provide shape to a garment, making it conform to the body’s curves. They are essential for fitting garments around areas like the bust, waist, and hips.

Common types of darts include:

Bust darts
Waist darts
Shoulder darts
Elbow darts

Pleats

Pleats are folds of fabric that are doubled back on themselves and pressed or stitched into place. They provide controlled fullness and decorative effects, often used in skirts, trousers, sleeves, and other garment sections.

Common types of pleats are:

Knife pleats (all folds facing one direction)
Box pleats (two knife pleats folded away from each other)
Inverted pleats (two knife pleats folded towards each other)
Accordion pleats (narrow, evenly spaced pleats)

Methods of Arranging Fullness

The main methods of arranging or disposing of fullness in garment making include:

Gathers
Darts
Pleats
Tucks (narrow, stitched folds)
Shirring (multiple rows of gathers)
Smocking (decorative embroidery over gathers)
Flounces (circular or shaped fabric pieces that create a wavy edge)

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to observe their clothing, specifically asking how some clothes fit snugly while others have extra fabric for movement or style. The teacher then introduces the topic: “Disposal or Arrangement of Fullness.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to questions and listen attentively.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the concept of fullness in garments and its importance.

Step 2: Explanation of Gathers

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what gathers are, their purpose, and where they are commonly used in garments. The teacher demonstrates how to create simple gathers on a fabric sample using hand stitching.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the demonstration and ask questions for clarity.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the definition and basic technique of making gathers.

Step 3: Explanation of Darts

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the definition of darts, their function in shaping garments, and shows examples of different types of darts (e.g., bust dart, waist dart) on a pattern piece or garment sample.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, observe the examples, and identify darts on their own clothing if applicable.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the purpose and various forms of darts.

Step 4: Explanation of Pleats

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines pleats, discusses their use for controlled fullness and decoration, and demonstrates how to form basic knife and box pleats on a fabric sample.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils pay attention to the teacher’s explanation and demonstration.
Learning Point: Pupils learn the definition and basic methods of creating pleats.

Step 5: Practical Activity

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Practical Application/Supervision
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher distributes fabric samples, needles, and thread, instructing pupils to practice making simple gathers and forming basic pleats. The teacher moves around to provide guidance and correction.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively engage in practicing gathers and pleats on their fabric samples.
Learning Point: Pupils develop practical skills in creating forms of fullness.

Step 6: Discussion on Other Methods of Arranging Fullness

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Elaboration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a brief discussion on other methods of arranging fullness such as tucks, shirring, and flounces, explaining their basic characteristics.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils contribute to the discussion and ask questions about the mentioned methods.
Learning Point: Pupils gain knowledge of a wider range of fullness arrangement techniques.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Define fullness in garment making.
Mention two methods of arranging fullness.
Differentiate between gathers and darts.
List two common types of pleats.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key learning points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of correctly handling fullness for garment fit and design. The teacher assigns homework.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the homework.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their understanding of the topic.

Lesson Keywords

Fullness – The extra fabric volume incorporated into a garment to create shape, ease, or decorative effects.
Gathers – Small, soft folds created by drawing a longer piece of fabric into a shorter space.
Darts – V-shaped folds sewn into fabric to remove excess and provide shape to a garment.
Pleats – Folds of fabric doubled back on themselves and pressed or stitched into place for controlled fullness.

Differentiation

The teacher will provide extra support to pupils who are struggling with the practical activities by offering one-on-one demonstrations and simplified instructions. Advanced pupils can be encouraged to experiment with different widths and depths of gathers or pleats.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure that there are sufficient fabric scraps for all pupils to practice the practical aspects of the lesson. Emphasize safety precautions when pupils are handling sewing needles and scissors. Encourage pupils to bring examples of garments that feature different types of fullness for the next class.