Entry Event

Teachers: Below is an example of how to start the discussion for your quilting project. This is your introduction to the project and a way to get the students engaged and excited about a project-based assignment. In this example, we are going to tie together the project across several different curriculums: social studies, math, reading, and art. The project will last for 2 weeks and work will be completed throughout the time during each of these courses.

Begin with showing the video below.

Begin the discussion on quilts and culture. Have students discuss in both small and large groups.

• Could Betsy Ross's flag be considered a quilt?

• Did slaves and former slaves make quilts to show people clues about the Underground Railroad and the road to freedom?

• How far back in American history can quilts be found? http://www.womenfolk.com/historyofquilts/articles.htm

• Did Native Americans make quilts? http://www.womenfolk.com/quilting_history/nativeam.htm

• Where can you learn about American quilts? https://www.britannica.com/art/quilting

• Can you research online to find a quilt example from your own culture?

Begin the discussion on quilts and geometric shapes

• What geometric shapes do you see on this quilt? http://www.earlywomenmasters.net/quilts/k/kaleidoscope/index.html

• If you put at least two of the shapes together, will it form a new shape? For example,2 triangles will make a square https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/barn-quilt-pattern-collection-amish-patchwork-1618488430

• What are other examples of putting 2 shapes together to form a new shape? (fractions)

Begin the discussion on quilts and stories

• We will be reading a couple of stories about quilts.

• Why were the quilts important to the characters of the stories?

• Do you or your family have quilts that are important to you? Do they reflect your culture or an important time in your life?

• Ask the students if they have a blanket when they were little that was important to them; or do they have a special blanket on their bed now that is important. What kind of shapes do they see in the blanket/quilt? Why is it important. This is good information to add to their Learning Log.

Begin the discussion on quilts and color patterns

• Ask the students if they noticed a lot of color in the quilts shown in the video above.

• Show the chart labeled Meaning of Color in Culture https://blogs.sas.com/content/sastraining/2017/06/29/colors-in-different-cultures/

• Can they find the color for their won culture that means happiness, love, or peace?

• What other colors do you find in your culture or displayed in your home that you see in the quilts?

• What color do you associate with sadness, happiness, or fun?

Sewing Machines

• Bring in a sewing machine to show to the students

• Explain that we will have several machines available for the students to use to sew their quilts.

• If possible, show the students how to sew some pieces of fabric together so they can see how quick and easy it to create a placemat-sized quilt

Ask students to begin their journey by taking a few notes in their Learning Log about their culture and plans for the quilt. If time allows, have them begin research online for the history of quilts. Working in pairs may help students get started.