Class 3 had an immersive hands-on experience learning all about fibres and wool production as part of their Farming Main Lesson with Class Teacher Cathy Bower. Handwork teacher Elizabeth Ellean and parent helpers came together  to help children wash the sheep's wool and then carded the wool to make it soft and smooth and  free of dirt, grasses and burr. Children then learned to spin the wool using a hand or drop spindle. This hand-spun wool was then woven using a hand-made 'Back Strap' loom to begin a belt for each student.

The children marveled at the strength of the hand spun wool and how easy it was to weave and how beautiful it looked when woven! Later in the day in the hand work lesson,  the children passed around Alpacca wool, Rabbit fur and goat wool or mohair and everyone agreed that the cashmere or rabbit fur was the softest and finest fibre they experienced. Next week the children will hear a story about Chris the sheep who strayed away from his flock and was discovered by bushwalkers a few years later. Chris was so heavy because he had not had a haircut in years and he could not stand up. When they rescued him and gave him a shave, the wool they collected from Chris was enough to knit 50 jumpers.