Teachers' Notes

Resource created by M&S Archive.

This resource is intended to provide a broad picture of the development of M&S marketing, using selected items from the M&S Archive collection.

Curriculum Links

KS2 Art & Design
KS2 Design & Technology
KS3 Citizenship

Learning Objectives

Knowledge of environmental and sustainability issues.
Understanding about the history and development of branding design over time.
Developing observation, research and design skills.

Discussion and Activity Ideas

KS2/3 Design and Technology

In 1903 what materials would have been available to make carrier bags from?
- What materials are carrier bags made from today?
Examine the properties of the different materials that can be used to make carrier bags.
Collect and test carrier bags made from different materials – tests could be for strength, waterproofing, stretch etc.
Create a carrier bag design project. You will need to decide:
- What the bag is for and what type of customer it is going to appeal to?
- What will it need to hold, what size will it be, how strong does it need to be?
- What will it be made of, how durable should it be, will it be recyclable?
- What will it look like, what words and images are you going to use?
- How many will you need to produce and how much will that cost?

KS2/3 Art & Design

Look carefully at the different design styles and fonts used in the M&S carrier bags. Find examples of fonts that were fashionable in 1900s, 1930s, 1950s and 1960s. Other M&S resources have examples of different font styles, Buildings and Signage and Biscuit Tins
What are the main differences between the designs from 1903 and 2010?
Look at the pictures of the archive-inspired M&S 'bags for life'.
- Design your own archive-inspired bag using images from the M&S pages as inspiration.
- Create an exhibition of your designs in school - you could ask other classes to vote for their favourite.

KS2/3/4 Citizenship

In 2008 M&S introduced a charge for carrier bags. Customers were asked at the checkout if they wanted a 5p bag. It was done to encourage people to use their own bags to conserve limited resources, promote sustainability, and cut down on waste and litter. In 2015 it became law in England for large shops to charge 5p per plastic bag.
- Organise a class debate about charging for carrier bags and record the pros and cons.
  - Has this policy helped change peoples' behaviour?
  - What, if any, has been the impact on the environment?
  - What else has changed as a result of this policy?
Create a campaign to encourage people in your school and community to conserve resources and recycle more.
- What would you need to do to get everyone involved and supporting the idea?

Glossary