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Clans and Tartans

Students will learn about the history of Scottish tartan and create their own colorful tartan design.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

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  • Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    A tartan is pattern of interlocking stripes, often featuring various colors. The history of Scottish tartan dates back to the third or fourth century CE. The tartan design itself is much older, and evidence of tartan cloth has been found dating back to about 3000 BCE. Have students learn about how this cloth has come to be firmly associated with Scottish culture. How is tartan different from plaid and why are the two words often confused? When did it come to represent various Scottish clans? Are all kilts tartan? Is tartan also associated with Ireland?

  • Step 2

    A clan is group of close-knit interrelated families, especially associated with families in the Scottish Highlands. Some tartans, however, represent individual families, towns, districts, corporations, individuals, events, and other non clan-related entities. Have students design their own tartan pattern and choose something they'd like it to represent. The stripes can be straight up, down, and across or they can be placed on a diagonal, as long as they interlock.

  • Step 3

    Have students present their tartan designs and discuss what they learned about tartan's importance to Scottish culture as well as what their creation represents and the reason they chose the colors they used.

Standards

SS: Culture: Create, learn, share, and adapt to culture.

SS: Individual Development and Identity: Describe factors important to the development of personal identity and the context of identity within families, peer or affinity groups, schools, communities, and nationalities. 

Adaptations

Kilts often feature a tartan pattern. Have students learn about the history of this form of clothing that originated as the basic garb of the Scottish Highlander. When did it originate? Do other cultures wear kilts? How do Irish and Scottish kilts differ?

Have students research other clothing styles and patterns associated with various countries. Suggestion might include the kente cloth of Ghana, the kimono of Japan, the hanbok of Korea, the dirndl of the Alpine region, the sari of India, or any others.