Rational
Our study involving quilts provides a concrete link for children between contemporary life and history because they are artifacts that act as a tools to help re-tell family stories and past events. Quilts are often passed down from one generation to another and the original material often comes from scraps of clothing and articles around the home. There is a sense of personal heritage and history that is evident in the quilt and comes through when they are shared by the owner.
Students and their families will have the opportunity to share their quilts with the class. This not only teaches us about people and places of the past, but also provides a positive link between school and home. By sharing these quilts we are also recognizing and appreciating the diversity of backgrounds within the class. By focusing our study on quilts we are also showing that we value the history of ordinary people and every day experiences. That practice of quilting is also an art that was both historically and currently done by women, this shifts the focus to a group of people that is often de-emphasized or left out of history.
Quilts also provide "real world" examples of math and geometry concepts. In order to make a quilt you must do a great deal of measuring, planning of the layout (spacial relations), and attention to shapes and patterns. Through the medium of quilts we will be designing patterns, manipulating polygons, and working with rotations and tessellations. Geometry concepts, when standing alone, can seem abstract for children, but by analyzing the actual quilts and being surrounded by examples, children are able to see their relevance.
The science component of this unit focuses on where the fabric originally comes from. During the colonial period, fabric stores were either not yet established, accessible, or just too expensive. Fibers from plants and animals had to be gathered, cleaned, spun, and woven. Students will be provided with a variety of fiber samples to investigate and as we learn about the process we will engage in some weaving of our own. The ways of life were very different from today, and by looking at processes such at these students will gain an understanding about the roles people had in colonial times and an appreciation for the ease with which we get products today.
At this point we already have over thirty quilts in our room and our investigations are well under way. This unit has enabled us to branch out of Room 12 to include and learn about the families of our students and many other teachers in the building.
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