Title of Project: Historical Quilt

Grade Level: 6-8

Number of Students Participating:

Contributed by:

Teacher:

School: First District School

District or County: ;Covington Independent School District

Overview/Description of Project: Students created a quilt of their city’s historical buildings and donated it to the local library

Goals:

-To help students learn about the history of their community

-To help students learn quilting techniques

-To educate others about the history of their community

Core Content Areas:

Communication and Math Skills : 1.2, 1.13 Students read about historical buildings in their community. They expressed what they learned through their quilt project.

Math : 2.8, 2.11 Using mathematical reasoning and patterning skills, students designed their quilt within certain size specifications. Using photographs of the buildings, they scaled the pictures to the appropriate size for the quilt square.

Social Studies : 2.19, 2.20 Students took a tour of the historical buildings in their community and learned about the significance of each. Students learned about the history of quilting. This projects helped students develop a better understanding of the history of their community.

Art and Humanities : 2.22, 2.23 A local artist spoke to the students about the quilting process and the art of stitchery. Students used the techniques shown to them to develop their historical quilt. They also used design techniques when they transferred the pictures of the buildings onto the quilt pieces.

Practical Living : 2.33 Through this project, students understood why certain buildings are of historical significance and the importance of preserving them for the local community.

Vocational Studies : 2.36 Students learned about careers related to the arts and history.

Self-Sufficiency : 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 3.7 Students expressed their creativity through development of the quilt pieces. Helping teach others about history helped to improve each students’ self-concept.

Responsible Group Membership : 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 Students learned to work cooperatively in groups and accept individual responsibility as they worked on their quilt pieces.

Thinking about Problem-Solving : 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 This project provided an excellent way for students to use critical, creative and conceptual thinking skills. It also allowed them to make decisions and solve problems relevant to the project.

Integration of Knowledge : 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 Students used their existing knowledge to plan the project and developed new knowledge as the project progressed.

PARC MODEL STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

PREPARATION: 1) Students spend time learning about local history through their regular social studies curriculum. 2) As a way to help the community, and to convey what they were learning, students decided they wanted to construct a quilt of local historical buildings and donate it to the library to help educate others about their community. 3) Students went on a field trip where they toured several historical buildings in their community. This provided them with a wealth of information about the significance of these buildings and why they were preserved. From this information, students decided which buildings they wanted to include on their quilt. 4) A local artist spoke to the students about the art of quilt-making. Students learned techniques that they would use in the making of their quilt and they were provided an opportunity to practice this skill.

ACTION:       Pictures were obtained of each of the buildings the students had chosen. Using the pictures, students designed their quilt pieces to be representative of the picture. Students worked in small groups, with each group designing their own quilt piece. 2) Students learned the technique of stitchery to complete the project. 3) The completed quilt was donated to the local library to beautify their facility and to help others better understand the significance of these historic buildings.

REFLECTION: 1) The students had a group discussion about how they felt about their project and how it made them feel. They brainstormed other ways that they could help educate the people of Covington about its history. 2) The students received a formal thank you from the library for their donation.

CELEBRATION: Students placed a series of photographs about their project in a well viewed area of the school so that others could recognize their achievements.