Students in the Culinary, Criminal Justice, and Small Animal Science programs at the LoGuidice Educational Center recently explored the intersection of chemistry and creativity through a hands-on tie-dye activity led by Science Liaison Jennifer Griem.
The lesson, which took place in collaboration with instructors Dave Caccamise, Jennie Alessi, and Holly Lemke, introduced students to the chemical principles behind permanent fabric dyeing — just in time to showcase their custom creations during Field Day on June 6.
“Our students love to learn through hands-on projects, and this is just one of the many opportunities we have to blend chemistry and creativity,” Griem said.
As students prepared and dyed their own cotton shirts, they were guided through the science that makes tie-dye more than just an art project. Griem’s lesson covered everything from covalent bonding and pH to the difference between hydrophilic and hydrophobic fibers. Using fiber-reactive dyes and soda ash solutions, students learned how chemical reactions permanently bond color to fabric — a stark contrast to the temporary staining seen with common grocery store dyes, which simply wash out over time.
“The best part is being able to continue to tie (no pun intended) in a lesson such as this by incorporating practical elements to each of the CTE programs,” Griem added. “For example, taking it a step further and having Culinary students learn about dyes they may use in their recipes. We also discussed the color wheel, complementary colors, and how this could be incorporated into plating food and making the plates visually appealing to the eye.”
