snoopyfreak

i remember, in one of my first home ec classes, the teacher gave us all a sheet of graph paper and had us practice sewing a straight line. without sewing our fingers... and we started off with an easy pattern, alphabet letter pillows. :)

mountain deb

I have not read through all the replies yet, but diffently tell her the difference between sewing scissors and craft scissors. They are not interchangeable.
To wet her feet, have her make a basic square pincushion, practicing sewing forward and backward so she is not intiminated with a larger project at first.

Bobby's Girl

Classes in public schools each have an approved "official" set of objectives that are mandatory guidelines for what is taught. Google to find a set of objectives for her age and grade level, and follow that. This will direct you to start "at the beginning" and work up to more difficult tasks in an organized way. Objectives help the teacher and the student, both. A person/student who hasn't first learned the parts of a sewing machine, how to operate the machine, and the skill of sewing on lines (so she can sew straight seams) will not be capable of making garments of any kind.

Sets of objectives are written by people who are skilled in teaching and have knowledge about what students in each age group and grade level have the ability and background to learn. Your teaching will be more effective and your student's success will be more easily accomplished if you follow these written guidelines.

Quilting Nana

I taught a quilting class for kids this summer and we taught
How to make a pillow case
and a sampler reading pillow cover. The cover had 4 different squares.
They loved it.
I also think teaching how to hem clothes and sewing on a button by hand would be great.
I love your idea for the cooking class. That is something all will remember. Make sure you take lots of pictures.

Lyncat

This thread has made me curious...how many members took home ec and were you a good home ec student? I had 7th and 8th grade, and 3 years in high school, but I was never a very good student in that class. But now I'm very good at sewing and cooking (thanks to grandma and mom).

quilter on the eastern edge

My school was an all-girls school and everyone took Domestic Science from Grade 5 to 9. We learned to knit in Grade 3 - the first thing I ever knit was a dish cloth knit out of cotton twine and I still have it. In Grade 4 we knit socks for the "poor Indian children of Northwest River" ( I know it is not politically correct but we are talking 52 years ago!) . They gave me, the messiest child in the class, pale yellow wool and Mom had to wash the socks I knit several times before she deemed them clean enough to send. They also got knit several times before the two sock were the same length! LOL!!

I didn't take Home Ec. in high school - it wasn't offered for my program.

vwquilting

Teach her how to make a string top 2 piece bag,pillow case, pot holder,Christmas stocking, simple things get her used to the machine. Then ask her if she has anything she would like to make. Make sure she picks out the fabric. Even if it is a hard project at that point she will not realize it for years to come.

boopeterson

I started with Home Ec class in Junior High and continued thru high school. I remember making an apron for our first project.. my fabric had baby disney character on it. I also remember making a denim seat for a fishing stool that we made in shop class, we made teddy bears and shirts and I also remember making a skirt and I had my mom pick up fabric for me when she was in town. She ran into my great aunt when getting it and she had her help her pick it out. It was white Polyester...OMG!! I was horrified.. I mean come on Polyester on a high school chick!!!! Not to flattering!

quiltmom04

Our schools around here call it Family and Consumer Science now.

wildyard

She can learn gathering as part of the apron. Also hemming, and adding a pocket.
Add in a quilt square pillow, and she should be good. LOL.