History Makers: Design Challenge

60-90m
Ages 5+

Make a historical costume

Bring a figure from the past into the present, cardboard style. Select a person from history you admire, then design a costume or prop that best represents them.

Subjects
Design and Technologies, English, Media Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Objectives

Preparation

Materials

Unsure of which cardboard to use? Read our guide here.

Activity

The Design Challenge

Pose the following scenario:

Your local historical society wants to launch a living history exhibit to bring the past to life for visitors of all ages. They've asked you to showcase pivotal moments and figures from history by emphasising clothing, armour, or identifiable props.


  • Your Goal: Research a specific historical figure, outfit, or armour and then design and construct a historically accurate wearable cardboard costume to represent your research.

  • Your Role: You are a historical costume designer and researcher, tasked with bringing a piece of the past to life for a new exhibit.

  • Your Audience: Your cardboard costume will be viewed by museum visitors, including other students, families, and history enthusiasts.

  • The Scenario: The historical society needs an innovative way to present historical clothing without the expense of authentic replicas. They believe well-researched and creatively crafted cardboard costumes can offer an accessible and engaging glimpse into historical identity and technology.

  • The Product: You will create a historically accurate costume or armour piece with cardboard and Makedo tools. The costume should clearly reflect the researched period or figure.

Reflection

Journal Prompts

  • How does the costume or prop represent the impact that your historical figure has had on your life?

  • What other people or factors have had a large impact on the person that you are today?

  • What did you enjoy about this activity? What are you most proud of?

  • Were there any challenges in creating your costume or prop? How did you overcome them?

  • What might you do differently if you were to do this activity again?

Further Resources

Alignment to Standards

These standards are highly relevant to this activity. For a complete list, please refer to the framework websites. This list can be tailored for your class.