In PreK-3, learning begins with curiosity—and this spring, our curiosity was sparked by something we interact with every single day: clothing.

It all began when teachers introduced clothing puzzles and fastener activities into our learning centers. The children were instantly intrigued, eagerly exploring buttons, zippers, snaps, and Velcro with great curiosity. They spent extended time fastening, unfastening, and trying again—showing impressive focus, persistence, and problem-solving. It quickly became clear that this wasn’t just play, but the start of a deeper and meaningful investigation.

So, we leaned into their interest and launched our next project: The Clothes Project.

Telling Our Clothing Stories

As with all St. James project work, we began by building a foundation of what we already know. Teachers and children brought in special clothing items from home and shared their “clothes stories” with the class.

Each child proudly presented a favorite clothing item and explained what it was, why it mattered, and what made it special. Some children shared items that were cozy, others shared outfits worn for celebrations, and some brought clothing tied to meaningful memories.

These stories helped us begin to see that clothing is more than fabric—it can represent comfort, identity, tradition, and family.

Building Knowledge Together

After sharing our stories, we worked together to create a growing web of words connected to clothing. This web became a living part of our classroom, revisited often as we learned new concepts and added new vocabulary.

Our project investigations were guided by the children’s questions and wonderings. What are clothes made of? Who designs them? Why do people wear uniforms? How do costumes work? How do we take care of clothing?

Each question helped us dig deeper into our topic in a way that was meaningful and developmentally rich.

Hands-On Learning Through Play

Our classroom quickly transformed into a clothing laboratory full of hands-on experiences. One of the highlights was creating our very own washing machine to place in centers for imaginative play.

As the project unfolded, the children practiced and strengthened important skills through purposeful work, including:

  • Sewing buttons
  • Stitching the beginning letters of their names
  • Practicing fasteners like zippers, snaps, and buttons
  • Sorting clothing by type and size
  • Learning how to fold clothes
  • Exploring how to properly care for clothing

Through these activities, students built fine motor strength, problem-solving skills, perseverance, and independence—all while engaging in joyful exploration.

Learning From Guest Experts

One of the most exciting parts of our project work is inviting experts from our community to expand our understanding. Throughout the Clothes Project, we welcomed several special guests who shared their knowledge and experiences with our PreK-3 students.

Rachel Fennie, St. James Admissions Director, visited to share her Mardi Gras costumes and masks from the Krewe of Iris. She taught the children about the history behind the costumes and even explained some of the laws and traditions connected to Mardi Gras attire. The children were fascinated by the vibrant details and the idea that clothing can be part of a larger cultural celebration.

Bridget Henderson, Head of School, joined us to discuss school uniforms. She explained the importance of uniform rules, why uniforms matter, and how they help create a sense of community. This conversation helped children connect their everyday school experience to a bigger purpose.

Jill Bryson, a St. James mom, shared how purses and shoes are designed and made. She brought her personal design sketchbook and introduced the children to the process of planning, sketching, and selecting fabrics. Students were amazed by the patterns and textures and loved seeing what it looks like to create fashion from an idea.

Mother Lynn, St. James chaplain, taught the children about special clothing worn by clergy. She shared the stoles she wears as a priest, showed the hat worn by a bishop, and explained what a cope is and how it is used. This was a meaningful way for students to learn how clothing can represent a role and responsibility.

Katherine Neil, St. James teaching assistant, along with 5th graders Reese C. and Grey G.,  visited to talk about costumes and their importance in storytelling. They shared about the costumes worn in the St. James play, helping our youngest students understand how clothing can help characters come to life.

Superheroes to the Rescue!

One of the most exciting parts of our project was bringing our learning to life through creativity in the SPARK Studio. Each child had the opportunity to design their very own superhero cape, carefully selecting different pieces of fabric and special details to make it uniquely theirs. Mrs. Sue Guarisco added an extra special touch by embroidering each cape with the child’s initial, making their creations feel truly one-of-a-kind. To celebrate, we held a Superhero Day, where students proudly wore their capes and worked together to conquer a fun obstacle course—ending the adventure by “flying” like true superheroes. It was a joyful day filled with confidence, imagination, and plenty of heroic spirit!

Growing Our Understanding

Through stories, hands-on learning, and expert visits, the children discovered that clothing serves many purposes. It can keep us warm, help us stay safe, show our culture, represent our jobs, and help us celebrate special occasions.

Most importantly, the children learned that clothing is something we can investigate thoughtfully—by observing, asking questions, testing ideas, and creating meaningful representations through play.

A Project Full of Wonder

The Clothes Project has been a beautiful example of what happens when children are given time, space, and support to follow their interests. What began with simple fasteners in a center became a deep and joyful exploration of design, culture, tradition, and daily life.

We are so proud of our PreK-3 students for their curiosity, creativity, and growing independence—and we can’t wait to see where their next wonder leads us. 💚💙

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