Kari Williams

Vocabulary in the Sewing Lab

Teaching Vocabulary Words
Utah Standard or National Standard:
FACS Exploration
STANDARD 4 Students will discuss and participate in hands-on activities related to clothing
and textiles.
Objective 1: Demonstrate the ability to use and care for the sewing machine, serger and
other specialty sewing machines.
a. Learn the parts of the sewing machine and their functions
b. Learn to change a needle in the sewing machine
c. Learn to correctly thread the sewing machine
d. Learn to wind and insert a bobbin into the sewing machine
e. Learn the proper/safe usage of a serger
Essential Question:
What are the functions of a sewing machine and serger?
Vocabulary words (7ish) that are necessary for engaging in the essential question:

Tension

Needle

Bobbin

Presser Foot

Looper

Hand Wheel

Feed Dog

Knife

Activities that would immerse students in the vocabulary words, providing them with
authentic or meaningful opportunities to engage with those words and to connect them
with their background knowledge:
Activity One:
Using their textbook or sewing manuals, students will label pictures of a sewing machine and
serger with the correct terms.

Activity Two:
Students will work in 2-member teams as they fill in an analogy chart. They will compare and
contrast the differences between sewing machines and sergers, and then categorize similarities.
This activity will increase understanding on when a sewing machine is to be used, versus a
serger.

Activity Three:
Students will analyze the features and characteristics between sewing machines and sergers using
the Semantic Feature Analysis Template. They will fill in the key features with: sewing
machine, serger, decorative stitches, hem finish, 2 threads, 2+ threads, single needle, 2 needles.
Concept terms will include tension, bobbin, loopers, finished edge, presser foot, feed dog, knife,
and any other terms the student thinks is applicable.

Activity Four:
Students will use their manual to guide them through the process of threading the sewing machine
and serger. They will demonstrate this ability to the teacher, and will be encouraged to say each
step out loud using terms they have learned.