World Wide Quilting Page

Question of the Week

Question for the week of January 7, 2002:

Our question this week comes from Marilyn Cann

I'm a quilter who is new to teaching a Grade One class and I wondering if anyone has ideas on how to use easy quilt patterns to teach Elementary geometry.

Sue Drover :
For several years I've been doing a quilting demonstration near Thanksgiving time for my children's elementary school. We cut 6" squares of manilla paper and 2" squares of several colors of construction paper. After giving the kids a brief history of patchwork in colonial times, I show them several quilts/quilt blocks. We talk about 4 patches, 5 patches, 9 patches, etc. Then I explain how important it is to use math to make sure that I have enough fabric, to figures out how big to make the quilt, etc. Then I show them how to make half-square triangles from some of their squares. They are free to make a 9-patch block using the squares and triangles, but it has to stay within the edges of the manilla paper. They glue the pieces down with a glue stick. Later, I show the teachers different ways of setting the blocks on the bulletin board to make a class quilt. After it has been displayed, each child gets his own block back to take home. This project is usually done with K-2 - I usually don'thave the Kindergarteners make triangles, but everyone else does and this is a big hit. I've considered doing a fabric quilt with my daughter's class, but I know I'd need a fair amount of help from other parents. It's not something I'd want to take on alone. This particular project is included into a day of learning about colonial times, and I teach each group for only 25 minutes. Obviously, you can go into much more detail without that time constraint.

beverly godfrey :
I've been using quilting as part of my lessons in 1st and 2nd grade for 6 years. There is a good lesson plan in the Box It and Bag It math and in EVERYDAy Chicago math program. I use color book quilt pages and each child colors a 9 block and then we glue them on a big sheet of paper to make a paper quilt. We also use old wrapping paper cut in squares and triangles to make nice blocks. The best project is when I cut 3 inch fabric squares and Triangles. The kids make nine blocks and I iron them on interfacing to be made into pillow covers at home. I have a selection of book titles that I use to integrate lit. lessons. if you want the list, let me know.

Tori Ralston :
triangles into squares and rectangles.

Kathy :
If you cut out the basic shapes (each shape a different paper pattern or color) and have them put them together to make a square, or use the shapes to make any picture they choose.

Pam in KY :
Pre-cut different shapes (triangles, squares, rectangles, trapezoids, hexagons ... whatever level they're at) from felt, in various colors. Put all of these pre-cuts shapes into a "grab-bag".

Create a 36" x 36" "master quilt" of plain felt and mark lines with a permanent marker, for quilt blocks and their pieces. (can actually be any size .... this will be your "background")

Have each child pick pre-cut shapes from the bag and identify the shape, then place their piece(s) in a matching section on the "master".

Once each child has placed their piece, display their "class quilt" for all to see.

You can find good blocks to use by visiting the WWQP's coloring book pages (I'd suggest using a variety of blocks for the "quilt").

http://www.quilt.com/ColoringBook/QuiltColoringBook.html

Best of luck.

Nora Green :
I think Jinny Beyer does it perfectly in her book "Patchwork Patterns" 'for all crafs that use geometric design- quilting, stained glass, mosaics, needlepoint, graphics,jewelry,weaving and woodworking.'

Nicky :
I saw something to this effect in a recent quilting mag but can't remember which one right now. I'll look for it and let you know. You may find it also. Good luck

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