What Is The Kilt Anyway?
Special Guests from
The Scotland Shop
In this playful and educational episode, Ewan the Unicorn explores the history, structure, and cultural meaning of the Scottish kilt. From ancient great kilts to modern-day tartans, students discover how this iconic garment tells stories of tradition, identity, and craftsmanship. With kid-friendly humor and hands-on activities, it’s a twirl-worthy celebration of heritage and creativity!
Download the Activity Pack!
Activities for this Episode
Your learners can dive deeper with these printable, kid-friendly resources:
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🖍️ Design Your Own Tartan
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✂️ Kilt Accessory Match Game
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🔤 Word Scramble
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📝 Think & Share Reflection Sheet
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🎨 Color Your Own Scottish Celebration Outfit
The Scottish Kilt with Scotland Shop
What We're Learning Today
In this episode of Scotland In Our Backyard, we team up with Ewan the Unicorn to answer one BIG question: What is a kilt anyway? We’ll explore the origins of this iconic garment, from its humble beginnings as a giant blanket to its status today as a powerful symbol of Scottish heritage. Along the way, kids will learn about:
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The history of the great kilt
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The structure and craftsmanship of modern kilts
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The meaning behind tartans
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Who wears kilts (spoiler: everyone can!)
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How kilts are used in celebrations today
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And how the kilt is part of a sustainable, handmade future
🦄✨ Through it all, Ewan’s curious, silly energy makes this a memorable—and educational—exploration of Scottish culture.
In The Classroom
Discussion Questions for the Classroom
Here are some great questions to spark class conversations:
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Why do you think people create special clothing for their culture?
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What stories can be told through patterns and colors?
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How do our clothes say something about who we are or where we come from?
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What might your own "family tartan" look like? What would the colors mean?
👂 Encourage students to share traditions from their own families or communities—and how clothing plays a part in them.
Curriculum Connection
This episode supports NC K-5 Social Studies and Visual Arts standards by helping students:
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Understand the significance of cultural symbols and traditions
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Compare past and present clothing and daily life
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Explore how cultural identity is expressed through art and design
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Learn about sustainability and handmade craftsmanship
Extension Ideas
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Fabric Detectives: Bring in different fabrics (wool, cotton, polyester) and let students touch, test, and compare them—just like a kilt maker might!
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Tartan Fashion Show: Have a classroom showcase where students present their custom tartan designs and share who or what inspired them.
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Community Connection: Interview a local tailor, veteran, or cultural representative about uniforms, regalia, or clothing with meaning.
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Kilt Timeline: Build a visual timeline from the Great Kilt to the modern fashion runway.
More From This Series:
Scotland In Our Backyard is a video series celebrating Scottish heritage in North Carolina — created by the Scottish Cultural Outreach Foundation with support from NC Humanities.
Explore the full series on YouTube
This program is supported in part by North Carolina Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, www.nchumanities.org.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this video do not necessarily represent those of North Carolina Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
