Sweden Crafts Curriculum

This document outlines the crafts curriculum for Swedish students, focusing on the development of practical skills, creativity, and an understanding of craft traditions. The curriculum emphasizes a hands-on approach where thinking, sensory experience, and action are intertwined. Students are encouraged to explore materials, develop ideas, and create functional and aesthetically pleasing objects. The curriculum also highlights the importance of understanding the cultural and societal context of crafts.

Years 1-3

Materials, Tools, and Techniques:

• Introduction to materials like metal, textiles, and wood, including their properties and uses.
• Safe and proper use of basic hand tools and instruments.
• Introduction to simple craft techniques such as working with wire, sawing, and twisting.
• Interpreting and following simple sketches and work descriptions, connecting them to basic calculations.

Working Processes:

• Understanding the different stages of a craft project: brainstorming, considering factors, communication, and oral evaluation.
• Exploring the possibilities of materials, instruments, and tools.

Aesthetic and Cultural Expressions:

• Using stories as inspiration for creative projects.
• Understanding how color, form, and materials contribute to the expression of a craft object.

Crafts in Society:

• The function and meaning of craft objects in everyday life.
• The origins of some craft materials, such as wool and common Swedish wood types.

Years 4-6

Materials, Tools, and Techniques:

• Continued exploration of metals, textiles, and wood, including combining materials and integrating digital technology.
• Safe and appropriate use of hand tools, instruments, and machines.
• Learning more advanced craft techniques like crocheting and hollowing.
• Interpreting and following 2D and 3D sketches, models, patterns, and instructions, connecting them to mathematical calculations.

Working Processes:

• Understanding the interconnectedness of different stages in a craft project.
• Exploring various materials and techniques.
• Documenting the work process through words and pictures.

Aesthetic and Cultural Expressions:

• Exploring craft traditions from different cultures for inspiration.
• Understanding the impact of color, form, and material combinations on aesthetic expression.
• Exploring the use and meaning of symbols and colors in youth culture.

Crafts in Society:

• The historical and contemporary importance of crafts for individuals and society.
• Resource management through repair and recycling.

Years 7-9

Materials, Tools, and Techniques:

• Advanced exploration of materials, including combining materials, integrating digital technology, and exploring recycled materials.
• Safe and appropriate use of hand tools, instruments, and machines.
• Learning advanced craft techniques such as molding, weaving, and metal cutting and turning.
• Interpreting and following complex 2D and 3D sketches, models, patterns, and instructions, connecting them to mathematical calculations.
• Understanding work environment and ergonomics, including sound levels and work positions.

Working Processes:

• Analyzing and evaluating the interconnectedness of different stages in a craft project and their impact on results.
• Exploring the relationship between material form, function, and design.
• Documenting the work process and results.

Aesthetic and Cultural Expressions:

• Using architecture, art, and design as inspiration.
• Creating original designs with different materials, colors, and forms.
• Analyzing the influence of fashion and trends on individuals.
• Understanding crafts as an expression of ethnic and cultural identity.

Crafts in Society:

• The role of design, art crafts, and domestic crafts in the public sphere.
• Sustainable material production.

This curriculum aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge to appreciate and participate in craft traditions, fostering creativity, problem-solving abilities, and an understanding of the cultural significance of crafts. It encourages students to explore materials, develop their own ideas, and create functional and aesthetically pleasing objects while considering the impact of their choices on the environment and society. The curriculum also promotes an understanding of craft traditions from different cultures and time periods, broadening students' perspectives and fostering an appreciation for the diversity of craft expressions.