Literacy Quilts

This past year I had a wonderful opportunity to 'team teach' with an amazing Grade 2 teacher.  Team teaching is a fantastic opportunity for the TL, classroom teacher and students to really utilise the Library space and resources.  Me and this teacher did some beautiful work together while focusing on literacy building skills.  Given the opportunity, I would love to team teach with every single teacher in the school, but due to budget and time constraints it did not happen.  Discussing with the staff at the end of the year, perhaps a rotating class roster where a class gets 4 weeks one-on-one for team taught project based learning may be order.  Hoping to find a permanent home at this school would allow this plan to come to fruition.  More on this topic later I'm sure......I will keep you posted.

The story The Quiltmaker's Gift by Jeff Brumbeau is a brilliant story of how a greedy king learns the joy of giving with the aid of a magical quiltmaker.  The illustrations in the book are gorgeous and it lends itself well to story prediction.  The grade 2 students really enjoyed it, and the following lessons got them really engaged with telling their own "happiness quilts".

The students each got a square of paper that was to be divided into 4 triangles.  Each student filled out 4 things or events that make them 'truly happy'.  A big discussion was on how not all things that make you happy are electronic....

After the rough copy was complete, they each got a square of 100% cotton that was pre-divided with a pencil.  They used crayons to colour their good copy onto the fabric.  I had pre-ironed the squares onto parchment paper to give them a bit of stability.

When the colouring was complete they each got to iron the crayon wax residue by placing plain newsprint over the image and ironing over the newsprint.  This melts the wax off and leaves only the pigment stuck to the cotton.

Then the students (with some amazing parent volunteer help) hand stitched their square 'x'.  I would strongly suggest some volunteer help here or you will be threading needles until you are blue in the face.....

You then give all the finished squares to your talented mother who will create a gorgeous quilt that can be proudly displayed in the Library!! *Thanks Mommy*

My Daddy hand carved the hanging pole for the quilt to be displayed.  (Having talented parents is a bonus when starting a project like this!!)

The students (and myself) were super proud of this creation.  The Grade ones were already asking if they get to make one next year! It took about a month (with a 35min block each week) and with some parents volunteers coming in during class time.  It was well worth the effort though!