Students will create a quilt that tells a story. This is a great arts & crafts activity that also ties in creative writing and black history!
Page 2 of 2
Math- Math Problems Quilt
Depending on the ages of the children, each individual square could contain cut-out objects and a number telling how many objects there are. Because these numbers and objects will be relatively small, use few background colors, allowing variety in size and style. - Traditional Geometric Blocks
On 8 x 8-inch construction paper squares, have students assemble triangles and squares of various sizes to make a block. Four identical 8-inch squares glued together on 18 x 18-inch paper (leaving a 1-inch border all around) forms yet another type of pattern.
- Creatures and Their Environments Quilt Blocks
Select an environment and have students research living creatures within that environment. A patch could include a creature and its surroundings, perhaps including a predator. Students could make several smaller quilts using such environments as the ocean, African forest, tropical rain forest, or veldt. - Favorite Food Quilt
Sandra Nickeson's students of the Guardian Angel Settlement (in St. Louis, Missouri) made a quilt in which each square had one item of food, such as pizza, an ice cream cone, a tomato, a green pepper, and so on.
- My State Quilt Blocks
Each student could select a location in his or her own state (or city) that people come to visit. They could base their picture on information from the state's tourism bureau about the park, monument, building, harbor, or historic event. - Cultural Quilt Blocks
An entire class quilt could be made that represents one particular culture such as Native American, Asian, Egyptian, Hawaiian, Inuit, Hispanic, Pennsylvania Dutch, or Scandinavian, using motifs that are unique to that civilization. For example, South American arpilleras are handmade folk art applique fabric blocks that tell a story of everyday life of the people of the Andes. - Transportation Quilt Blocks
Research the evolution of transportation from ancient times. Each square could include something different, such as carts, trains, planes, automobiles, horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, boats, submarines, helicopters, balloons, blimps, in-line skates, etc.
Excerpted from A Survival Kit for the Elementary/Middle School Art Teacher.
