Our cotton campaign in 2011 is all about showing off Fairtrade cotton and highlighting the injustices that make Fairtrade a vital lifeline for cotton farmers. Fairtrade cotton has been around for five years and we want to celebrate by letting everyone know how Fairtrade helps cotton farmers in India and West Africa by giving them a better deal. Did you know?

• There are 30 million cotton farmers in 65 countries around the world
• Cotton cultivation uses about 50% of all chemical pesticide used in farming
• Cotton covers 2.4% of the world's farmland

Learning about cotton, trade and Fairtrade

To get you started, here's a presentation, with notes, about cotton, trade and Fairtrade.

Cotton: from seed to garment (19511.89KB)

Free DVD available

Our website has lots of great films about cotton, Fairtrade and our campaigns . But if you can't stream our films at school, send us an email at schools@fairtrade.org.uk. Write "Fortnight DVD" in the subject box and give us your name, school name and school address, and we'll send you a Fairtrade Fortnight 2011 DVD. It has lots of new films, including one about the impact of Fairtrade cotton in Mali that fits well with the learning objectives of Cotton Trading, the new Fairtrade Fortnight 2011 film, and 'Cotton: a whole new look'.

Three sets of learning activities

Investigating cotton

A set of curriculum resources for Geography investigating where cotton grows around the world, the journey of cotton from plant to shop and examining the concept of interdependence.

(Please note - due to unprecedented demand we have run out of the Fairtrade cotton bunting referred to in the Investigating Cotton lesson plans. The good news is that your school can still get Fairtrade cotton bunting for your Fairtrade Fortnight activities - check out Gossypium and Fairtrade Fabric.)

For students aged 5+: Investigating cotton plan (5+) , Investigating Cotton PowerPoint (5+) , and Journey of cotton pictures.

For students aged 8+: Investigating cotton plan (8+), Investigating Cotton PowerPoint (8+), The cotton journey (8+) and Journey of cotton pictures.

For students aged 11+: Investigating cotton plan (11+), Investigating Cotton PowerPoint (11+), The cotton journey (11+) and Journey of cotton pictures.

Cotton Trading

A set of curriculum resources for Geography and Citizenship investigating the interdependence of the cotton trade, life for cotton farmers in Mali and the difference Fairtrade can make.

For students aged 8+: Cotton Trading plan (8+); Sir Steve Redgrave's video diary from Mali.

For students aged 11+: Cotton Trading plan (11+); Sir Steve Redgrave's video diary from Mali.  

Cotton on to People Power!

A set of curriculum resources for Citizenship where students think about the concept of fairness, look at how people respond to unfairness around them, and get the chance to decide whether they want to to take action by taking part in the cotton bunting campaign or in Fairtrade Fortnight.

(Please note - due to unprecedented demand we have run out of the Fairtrade cotton bunting referred to in the Cotton on to People Power! lesson plans. The good news is that your school can still get Fairtrade cotton bunting for your Fairtrade Fortnight activities - check out Gossypium and Fairtrade Fabric.)

For students aged 8+: Cotton on to People Power plan (8+); posters about Fairtrade Fortnight; Fairtrade cotton bunting; film: 'Fairtrade Fortnight 2011: Show off your label' (optional). 

For students aged 11+: Cotton on to People Power plan (11+); film 'Cotton: A whole new look'; Fairtrade cotton bunting.  

The cotton directory

Check out these learning resources on trade, Fairtrade and cotton from Oxfam, Teachers TV and BBC Schools.

Has your school decided to switch to a uniform that includes Fairtrade cotton? Here's a list of suppliers (towards the end of the page).

The cotton section of the Fairtrade Foundation website has lots of background information about cotton, cotton trade and Fairtrade cotton - including our new cotton report, The Great Cotton Stitch Up, as well as photos, films and cotton farmers' stories.

The Fairtrade Fortnight Schools Action Guide 2011  focused on cotton and has some great ideas, tips and background information - perfect to support your school to think about  switch to Fairtrade cotton uniform.

2012 News! Step back to school in Fairtade cotton

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In 2011 we challenged you to make bunting for Fairtrade Fortnight. You did us proud! Over 150,000 individual triangles of bunting came back to us from people who wanted to see trade work better for poor farmers. It  earned us all a place in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest string of bunting, and you did a great job in raising awareness of the existence, and need for, Fairtrade cotton.

The next challenge: In 2012 we want you to take the next step and take action for Fairtrade cotton.

Here’s all you need to
• teach about Fairtrade
• get your students campaigning
• swap your uniform for Fairtrade cotton uniform

Step back to school in Fairtrade cotton: Summer Action Guide
Step back to school in Fairtrade cotton: Progress Chart 
Step back to school in Fairtrade cotton - PowerPoint