Cotton is arguably one of the most important agricultural commodities produced in the U.S. Its history closely inter-twined with the evolution of this country, not least of which is its role, with the development of the cotton gin, in helping to spark the Industrial Revolution.
To help educators introduce the history of cotton to their students and enable them to utilize the fiber’s varied role in American industry and culture as a basis for discussing and illustrating broader historical events, Cotton Incorporated, the research and promotion company representing Upland cotton, has launched
www.CottonCampus.org, a web site specifically designed
for elementary and middle school students, their educators and parents.
The site features
free slideshows,
games,
classroom activities and a
video on cotton’s sustainability, as well as
free downloadable and printable lesson plans for teachers.
Lesson plans include writing and research projects that teach the role of cotton in history, activities to help develop math skills through constructing and solving equations from cotton word problems, and projects enabling students to conduct science experiments by comparing cotton with other natural and man-made fibers.
After students have completed activities in the classroom program they can participate in an entertaining, self-correcting quiz at
http://www.cottoncampus.org/Cotton-Campus-Games/, to further expand their understanding of textiles and the world of fashion.
