National Endowment for the Humanities
History in Quilts
Learners investigate the use of cloth-based art forms intended to pass down traditions and history. They research types of quilts, quilt characteristics and then identify how Freedom Quilts were historically used in the US.
National Museum of the American Indian
To Honor & Comfort Native Quilting Traditions
"Native American history leaps boldly off the colorful quilts and patchwork designs." Learners discuss Native American identity and symbolism by reading about a variety of Native quilters and their unique art process, and participate in...
Curated OER
Stories in Quilts
Have your class analyze the narrative art in quilts. They identify elements in this domestic art and the stories they tell. They define a story quilt, view an example, and analyze the work of Harriet Power. This is a great lesson to...
Curated OER
The Quilting Connection....a Teaching Unit on Slavery, the Underground Railroad And Quilting
Students research the Internet, read designated books and selection, participate in discussions and write short reports while completing this series of lessons about slavery and the Underground Railroad. As a final project, they design a...
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Stitching Quilts into Coordinate Geometry
Who knew quilting would be so mathematical? Introduce linear equations and graphing while working with the lines of pre-designed quilts. Use the parts of the design to calculate the slope of the linear segments. The project comes with...
Curated OER
Quilts and Math
Students create a pattern. For this patterns lesson, students review the meaning of symmetry and explore using pattern blocks. Students look for patterns in real quilts, photographs and pictures. Students work independently to plan a...
Curated OER
Quilting - A Pioneer Craft
Fifth graders explore quilting in pioneer families. In this quilting instructional activity, 5th graders review the history of quilts, the role of women, and quilting patterns. They create their own pattern and quilt square.
Curated OER
Folk Art: Bird of Paradise Quilt Top
Students examine a "Bird of Paradise Quilt Top" to discover what the themes and patterns tell about mid-nineteenth-century America. In this American Folk Art lesson, students discuss the possible creator of the quilt and the symbols...
Curated OER
Hand Quilting
Students are introduced the techniques of hand quilting. After viewing a demonstration, they practice the same skills in which to successfully create a quilt. They share their creation with the class and offer constructive criticism on...
Brooklyn Museum
"Workt by Hand": Hidden Labor and Historical Quilts
Just like a painting or the symbols on a flag, quilts can express ideas that reflect a cultural context, space, and time. The class discusses the history of quilt making throughout US history and what different types of quilts mean. They...
Curated OER
Gee's Bend Quilts Two
Third graders identify the different types of lines. They name five new facts about the quilts studied, the women, and community of Gee's Bend and begin to stitch the pieces of the Quilt top together. When finished student put all their...
Curated OER
Early American Quilt Patterns
Students explore the history and purpose of quilts in early America. They create and name their own unique quilt blocks. Students combine their quilt blocks with other students in the class to create a class quilt.
Curated OER
Gee's Bend Quilts
Third graders identify five new facts about the quilts, women, and community of Gee's Bend and finish their quilts by sewing the four edges of the quilt down. They review the color wheel and what the terms Primary, Secondary, Analogous,...
Curated OER
Gee's Bend Quilts Three
Third graders identify and practice sewing a dashed line in an arch shape. They identify with five new facts about quilts, women, and the community of Gee's Bend. Finally, 3rd graders complete the quilt top, batting and backing together.
Curated OER
Math/Quilt Connection
Students explore quilting. In this math patterns instructional activity, students define the perimeter of a quilt border, create tessellations using geometric shapes, and detemine the area of a quilt.
Curated OER
Covered with Love: A Look at Me Quilt
Students create a bright and busy quilt to visually stimulate an infant or toddler. They use both hand applique and machine applique to piece together colorful scraps using many different shapes and patterns.
Curated OER
SWEET DREAMS, MOON BABY
Study previously-unpublished techniques and also stunning yet surprisingly easy historic techniques in quilting. Advance from simple needleturn applique to antiquarian fancywork with optional stencil-shading applique, inkwork, and...
Curated OER
Count by 5's Teaching Idea
Creating while learning is great for visual, spacial, and kinesthetic learners. First graders can use the provided quilt squares to construct their very own count by 5 quilt. Each quilt square shows a picture of a hand with a 5s number...
State of Michigan
Pre-K Mathematics
Kick-start children's education with this pre-school math unit. Offering 31 different hands-on learning activities that develop young mathematicians' pattern and shape recognition, basic number sense, and much more, this is a must-have...
Curated OER
A Polynomial Quilt
Tenth graders create polynomial quilts. In this polynomials lesson, 10th graders use concrete models, such as construction paper, to create various shapes described. Students use the FOIL method to multiply terms and to get a square...
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: The Keeping Quilt
Students consider tier two vocabulary words. In this vocabulary lesson, students investigate the meaning of new vocabulary words found while reading The Keeping Quilt. Students record their new vocabulary words using a word journal or...
Curated OER
Classroom Quilt of Cultures
Students discuss the similarities and differences in their cultural traditions. In this quilt of cultures lesson, students sing and dance to "Smile at your Neighbor." Students write down their favorite food, holiday, family activity,...
Curated OER
Kids Quilt Together
Students practice stenciling designs onto fabric in hoops. After the quilting is complete, they stitch lace around the hoop to make it more decrative. They share their quilt with the class and the class comments on the design.
Curated OER
Heirloom Machine Quilting
Young scholars practice using the sewing machine to make designs. After viewing demonstration, they discuss the best workspace, batting selections and how to prepare the quilt for use. They share their final quilt with the class.