Sitz mit Stil_Upcycling als Gestaltungskompetenz_Heike Lang

This article presents a practice-oriented textile project for primary education that combines sustainability, creativity, and design competence through hands-on learning. At the center of the project is a round seat cushion woven from discarded textiles—an upcycling activity that allows children to experience how seemingly worthless materials can be turned into functional and aesthetically pleasing objects. The project fosters key competencies outlined in the Austrian curriculum for “Technology and Design,” including material awareness, perseverance, and teamwork. It is flexible, age-appropriate, and designed for differentiated instruction. As part of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), the activity supports SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), promotes circular thinking, and engages students in critical reflection on their own consumption behavior. The article connects the project to GreenComp (the European sustainability competence framework) and highlights how children can develop self-efficacy and ecological awareness through creative action. A blog article related to this project is available at: https://amann-technik-design.at