The Educator’s Textile Anthropology Toolkit

Project in Development | Launching 2026

The Textile Anthropologist Educator Toolkit is a curated series of lesson plans, activity guides, and teaching materials designed to introduce textile anthropology into classrooms, museums, and community learning spaces. Rooted in my Textile Literacy Framework, the toolkit bridges anthropology, history, ecology, and material culture—making abstract ideas tactile and teachable.

Geared toward educators working with youth (ages 12+) and lifelong learners alike, each lesson centers on hands-on activities that explore fiber traditions, dye plants, material culture, and the stories textiles carry. The toolkit is informed by my background in environmental anthropology and public education, with an emphasis on cultural respect, ecological awareness, and creative inquiry.

Each module is available as a digital download, with a full lesson plan, slides, activity guides, and other optional printable resources and educator notes.

The full series will include lessons such as:
- Chemistry / Indigo Vat
- History / Political Economy of Cloth
- History / Fabric + Resistance
- Science / Fiber Structures + Identification
- Ecology / Textile Ecologies + Economies
- Social Studies / Textile Archaeology
- Art / Weaving + Textile Impressions
- Math / Accounting with Quipus
- Language Arts / Material Ethnography

This toolkit helps educators teach textile literacy as cultural literacy. Learners walk away with a more nuanced understanding of global history, ecology, and identity—through the lens of something they engage with daily: cloth.

- Brings hands-on learning to connect anthropology, ecology, history, and science
- Supports interdisciplinary teaching with a DEI and sustainability lens
- Encourages empathy, respect, and curiosity across cultures

If you’re an educator, arts organization, or museum professional interested in testing of one of these modules, or to collaborate otherwise, please send me an email.