T-Shirts for a Cause

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Explore Possibilities

Teacher Note

Students will use the design tool to explore different possibilities for T-shirt design in this activity. Expect debates as they weigh the pros and cons of different materials and practices within their groups.

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Now that you have examined your challenge, brainstormed ideas, and identified the constraints you are working with, it is time to start exploring some possibilities for your T-shirt design!

Use the design tool below to investigate different possibilities for your T-shirt. You will notice that in addition to material, dye and graphics, the design tool asks you to make decisions about packaging materials, and labor and manufacturing practices. Review any notes you have taken in your Engineering Portfolio, and conduct any additional research you need to make decisions on these factors. Keep track of your work in your Engineering Portfolio under item #5: Explore Possibilities on page 9.

Designer Tool

Choose options to create your T-shirt design.
Keep track of costs in your Engineering Portfolio.

Hint

Select the type of fabric for your T-shirt.

Organic cotton short sleeve $6 Organic cotton long sleeve $8 Hemp short sleeve $6 Hemp long sleeve $8 Bamboo short sleeve $8 Bamboo long sleeve $10
Review Your Choices.
Hint

Select the color and type of dye for your T-shirt.

White Black Blue Red Orange Yellow Green Light Blue Pink

Dye

Vegetable dyes $1 Low-impact dyes $2
Review Your Choices.
Hint

Select the graphic that will appear in the center of your T-shirt.

Recycle Cup of water Smoke stack Footprint Green globe Earth with plant Sun Globe with arrows
Review Your Choices.
Hint

Choose a size for your center graphic, and calculate the cost of that size. Graphics cost $0.01 per square inch.

Small (6 by 6 inches) Medium (9 by 9 inches) Large (12 by 12 inches)
Review Your Choices.

Enter the cost of your graphic.

Hint

Select an accent(s) for your T-shirt. Click the accent, and then click the place on the T-shirt where you want the accent to appear. To remove an accent, click on the appropriate accent in the white box. Accents cost $0.02 each.

Green globe Orange globe Black globe Purple globe Green leaf Orange leaf Blue leaf Light blue leaf Blue drop White drop Green drop Purple drop Rainbow squiggly Blue squiggly Black squiggly Pink squiggly
Review Your Choices.
Hint

How many accents did you place on your T-shirt?

Each accent costs $0.02. Review Your Choices. Enter the total cost of your accents.

Hint

What message would you like to appear on your T-shirt? Write your message in your Engineering Portfolio.

Text costs a flat rate of $1 for up to 20 letters. Each additional letter costs $0.06.

Review Your Choices. Enter the number of letters in your message.

Enter the cost of the text.

Hint

Colorful graphics and text add to the cost of materials. Add the cost of the center graphic, accents and text, and then take 1% of this sum to determine the color fee.

Review Your Choices. Enter the amount of the color fee. Round to the nearest cent.

Hint

Select where you will manufacture your T-shirts.

USA
(no additional fee) Overseas
(additional fee)

If you chose overseas, add the cost of the fabric. dye, center graphic, accents, text and color fee. Take 2% of that sum, and enter it in the box.

Review Your Choices.
Hint

Will you use eco-friendly practices in the production of your T-shirts?

No eco-friendly practices (no fee) Some eco-friendly practices (2% of subtotal) All eco-friendly practices (4% of subtotal)
Review Your Choices.
Hint

You chose: No eco-friendly practices (no fee) Some eco-friendly practices (2% of subtotal) All eco-friendly practices (4% of subtotal)

Calculate a subtotal of all the items in Your Choices. Next, multiply the subtotal by the appropriate percent for eco-friendly practices.

Enter the amount. Review Your Choices.

Hint

Select your packaging method.

No recycled materials used (no fee) Some recycled materials used ($0.75) All recycled materials used ($1.00)
Review Your Choices.
Hint

Calculate the final cost for producing one of your T-shirts.

Enter the amount. Review Your Choices.

Now print your T-shirt and write your message on the printed copy.

After you have printed your design, go to the next page of the website.

white short sleeved tshirt black short sleeved tshirt blue short sleeved tshirt red short sleeved tshirt orange short sleeved tshirt yellow short sleeved tshirt green short sleeved tshirt light blue short sleeved tshirt pink short sleeved tshirt white long sleeved tshirt black long sleeved tshirt blue long sleeved tshirt red long sleeved tshirt orange long sleeved tshirt yellow long sleeved tshirt green long sleeved tshirt light blue long sleeved tshirt pink long sleeved tshirt
Recycle Cup of water Smoke stack Footprint Green globe Earth with plant Sun Globe with arrows
click here to add an accent to the top left click here to add an accent to the top center click here to add an accent to the top right click here to add an accent to the bottom left click here to add an accent to the bottom center click here to add an accent to the bottom right

Your Choices

  • Fabric:

    $0.00

  • Dye:

    $0.00

  • Center Graphic: Recycle Cup of water Smoke stack Footprint Green globe Earth with plant Sun Globe with arrows

    $0.00

  • Accents:

    globe icon globe icon globe icon globe icon

    $0.00

  • Text:

    $0.00

  • Color Fee:

    $0.00

  • Manufacturing:

    $0.00

  • Practices:

    $0.00

  • Packaging:

    $0.00

  • Total Cost:

    $0.00
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Hint

Use this chart to help guide your selection.

Options Environmental Impact Other factors to consider
Organic Cotton
  • partially watered by rain and supplemented with irrigation
  • harmful chemicals are not used to deal with weeds and pests
 expensive to produce
Hemp
  • does not require excessive water or pesticides, but is generally grown overseas and must be transported to the U.S.
  • transportation uses fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases
 fabric is rough, wrinkles easily and color is often not rich
Bamboo
  • grows quickly with little water and does not require pesticides to thrive
  • takes more energy and chemical processing to turn bamboo into soft fabric
 expensive to produce

Color will not affect the cost of your T-shirt.

Use this chart to help guide your selection.

Options Environmental Impact Other factors to consider
Vegetable dyes
  • made from plants
  • require lots of water to use
  • contain fewer harmful chemicals than traditional dyes
 expensive to produce
Low-Impact dyes
  • contain no or few toxic chemicals
  • can be used at a low temperature, meaning less energy is used to heat the water involved in the dying process
 fabric is rough, wrinkles easily and color is often not rich

Think about the message you want to convey. Which graphic best helps to convey your message or cause?

If graphics cost $0.01 per square inch, you need to first obtain the product of the dimensions. Next, multiply the product by $0.01 to obtain the cost of the graphic.

For example, if the dimensions are 5 inches by 5 inches, you would find the product:

5 x 5 = 25

Next, multiple that product by the unit cost.

25 x $0.01 = $0.25

The cost of a graphic that is 5 inches by 5 inches is $0.25.

Choose accents that will complement your T-shirt center graphic. Remember to leave space if you choose to add text to your T-shirt.

Identify the number of accents that appear on your T-shirt. Multiply the number of accents by $0.02 to obtain the total cost of accents.

Think about your cause. What text would best convey your message? Remember to keep track of costs and the number of letters used.

Up to 20 letters is $1. Each additional letter over 20 is $0.06. If you have more than 20 letters, multiply the number of additional letters by $0.06. Next, add that product to $1.

To find 1% of the sum, multiple the sum by 0.01. Round to the nearest cent.

Use this chart to help guide your selection.

Options Environmental Impact Other factors to consider
Domestic manufacturing (made in the U.S.) minimal energy used in transportation higher labor costs
Overseas manufacturing more energy is used in transporting goods from oversees, which contributes to the release of greenhouse gases lower labor costs, but companies must pay additional taxes and shipping costs

To find 2% of the sum, multiple the sum by 0.02. Round to the nearest cent.

Use this chart to help guide your selection.

Options Environmental Impact Other factors to consider
Made with no recycled materials may take more energy to process materials
  • may have negative impacts on the environment
  • is not eco-friendly
  • may require more effort or expense
Made with some or all recycled materials
  • may take less energy to process materials
  • diverts some materials from landfills
 may require more effort or expense

Use this chart to help guide your selection.

Options Environmental Impact Other factors to consider
Made with no recycled materials may take more energy to process materials
  • may have negative impacts on the environment
  • is not eco-friendly
  • may require more effort or expense
Made with some or all recycled materials
  • may take less energy to process materials
  • diverts some materials from landfills
 may require more effort or expense

Find the sum of all items in Your Choices so far. Next, multiple the sum by either 0.02 or 0.04, if you chose to use eco-friendly practices.

Now that you have an idea of how much your T-shirt costs to produce, decide how packaging will affect your cost.

Find the sum of the costs of all items in Your Choices.

Close

Objectives

Facilitate a class discussion about the story and review the highlighted vocabulary. Let your class know that they will be studying severe weather and its impact on homes. For a hands-on extension activity, see Appendix F in the teacher resources.

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More Content Here.

More Content Here.

Did you know?

What is severe weather?
How does weather impact people's lives?

STEM Career
Connection

Visit this section throughout the lesson to learn fun facts and explore science careers!

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