A Patchwork of Places and Poetry

Shirley Krienert Grade 2
Carruthers Elementary School
Murphysboro, IL   

Resources:
I did a subject search on google (QUILTS, QUILTING) and another (Quilts, children's literature). I also went to my local library and searched their books under the same subject headings.

I used approximately 25-30 books with my students. The books ranged from picture books, and early primary books that had quilts as at least part of the theme. For example: The Patchwork Quilt, Tar Beach (pictures are quilts), and Sam Johnson and the Blue Ribbon Quilt were a few of those used.

The books were read to the class, and then displayed at a center for the children to read during centers or free time. Other books were quilting pattern books with real quilting patterns/pictures.

I also brought in a sampling of quilts from my family to show the piecework and stitching. As part of the quilting center, the students used pattern blocks and small magnetic triangles to create their own quilting patterns.

Several writing mini-lessons involved creating poetry, as a whole class and small groups working with various subjects before taking on the quilting poems.

The project was a wonderful way to form an interdisciplinary unit of study revolving around reading/writing/mathematics and social studies.  Everything just seemed to work together, and my students not only learned a great deal but weren't bored.  Our quilt is hanging in a local bank, and the president of the bank said that lots of the people stopping at the bank spend time reading our Murphysboro quilt.  Throughout the project my students gained information about our community and pride in their project.  Viewing the other quilts on the webpage has also led to even more learning and sharing.

~ S. Krienert 

Our Quilt

Poetry Samples

Illinois Standards

English and Language Arts:
#1.B.1b Identify genres of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and electronic literary forms;
#3.B.1a Use prewriting strategies to generate and organize ideas, including using descriptive words when writing about places, people, things and events; #3.C.1a and 1b Writing for a variety of purposes, and creating media compositions of productions which convey meaning visually for a variety of purposes.

Mathematics:
9.A.1a Identify related two-and three-dimensional shapes;
9.B.1a Identify and describe characteristics, similarities and differences of geometric shapes;
9.C.1b Sort, classify and compare familiar shapes.

Social Science:
16.B.1a Identify key individuals and events in the development of the local community;
18.B.1a and 18.B.1b
Compare the roles of individuals in group situations and Identify major social institutions in the community.

Fine Arts:
26.B.1d Visual Arts Demonstrate knowledge and skills to create visual works of art using manipulation, eye-hand coordination, building and imagination.

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