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Summary and Objective
As part of a unit on how people kept warm "in the olden days", children will look at quilts to appreciate the designs as well as the craftsmanship. Students will understand that quilts not only served a function - to keep warm, but that the form - the aesthetic qualities of the quilt, were valued as well. Focusing on the "Children at Play" quilt, children will compare favorite pastimes then and now, to understand that children from long ago shared similar recreational pursuits. Children will make a quilt relating to that theme to be given to needy children.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Pre-activities: If possible, visit local museums or historical societies to look at quilt collections. Look at pictures of quilts. Bring in a quilt for children to examine (how it feels, looks, weighs, etc.).
Step 2.
View quilts from the digital collection on the American Centuries web site. (If possible, print the images and make large color copies to display in the classroom.) Discuss similarities, differences, who made them (if known) and reasons why they might have been made that way.
Step 3.
Focus on the "Children at Play" quilt. Discuss what the children depicted in the quilt are doing.
Step 4.
Brainstorm and chart a list of favorite activities that children enjoy now.
Step 5.
Have each child draw their favorite pastime with fabric crayons on an 8" square of material that is marked with a 1" border.
Step 6.
Lay the finished squares out in the way they will be sewn. Children may have input as to order or pattern.
Step 7.
With help of an adult, children will sew their square to the next one. Adults will sew the remainder of the quilt. Then children will be shown how to tie their squares.
Step 8.
The finished quilt will be donated to "Warm the Children" or a similar organization.
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