America's Quilting History
 
PowerPoint Presentation

Teresa Krause
New Manna Christian School - Marion, N.C.
Adventure of the American Mind - Montreat College

Subjects: History, Home Economics, Social Studies
 
Intended Grade Levels: 7 - 9
 
Description: The students will learn the history of quilts and quilt making in America. They will also learn the basics of putting a quilt together. The final goal is for the class to make a quilt.

Narrative: In today’s busy world, traditions seem to have been lost. Quilting is one of those traditions. Most of today’s teenagers have no idea how a quilt is made, or how much time and work goes into putting a quilt together. My hope is that the students will learn a new appreciation for the people who made quilts to keep their families warm and maybe decide to keep the tradition of quilting alive in their own families one day.
 
Study Objectives Addresses:

History: To examine the areas in America’s History where quilts played an important role, and to report on some of these areas

Home Economics: Learn to identify the materials used to put a quilt together. Be able to make a quilt block, and piece the blocks together for a final project.
 
Social Studies: Discuss and write about the social aspects of quilting. Quilting bees… etc.

Detailed Timeline:
This lesson will take approximately seven days. The final project of making a quilt will take quite a bit longer, (several weeks).

Day 1: Present the first six slides, have students give me their ideas about the different ways quilts may have been used during the settlement of the West. Discuss the lifestyle and the hardships of that lifestyle.

Day 2: Show next four slides. Discuss the meaning of a Log Cabin Quilt to runaway slaves. Introduce the story of Harriett Tubman, and what she did for slaves. Students will be divided into groups of four or five. I will ask them to brainstorm and decide the way they would like to give a report on Harriett Tubman. Example: A skit, a visual, a song, etc. Students may visit library for information, and continue research at home.
 
Day 3: Groups will work together, and combine their research and ideas. I will observe their progress.

Day 4: Presentations should be completed today, and ready to present to class tomorrow.
 
Day 5: Each group will give their presentations. The class will evaluate each presentation, and give the grade they believe is deserved.
 
Day 6: Present next six slides. These slides cover the Civil War. Class will have a detailed discussion about the necessities of quilts for the soldiers during the war.

Day 7: Discuss with class the importance of learning about their heritage and passing on traditions to future generations.

Materials/ Hardware/ Software:

• Handout 1- List of quilting materials and their definitions
  
• Handout 2- List of criteria for presentations by which it will be graded
  
• At least one computer connected to the Internet
  
• Quilting materials: Fabric, Thread, Filling, Needles, and Thimbles
  

Teacher Preparation:
Find web- sites that will help the class with their research. Prepare rubrics for student evaluations. Have supplies for making quilt on hand.
 
Prerequisite Student Skills:
Computer basics- basic knowledge of the Internet
 
Activities/Procedures:
Do research on the subject assigned; be able to work together with fellow students on projects. Library and Internet research will be required. Each student will do an interview with an older person (grandma, great-grandma, aunt, etc.) to learn about their past, and the type of lives they lived. Did they ever sew or quilt? The final project will be the class working together, and making our own quilt.
 
Assessment/Evaluation:
Their fellow classmates, using a rubric type evaluation, will evaluate the student’s group presentations. The teacher will assess the final project of making a quilt block and piecing them all together.