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Writing Quilt LessonStudents Learn How Writing Is Important in Their LivesA writing quilt can change a few perceptions about who the students think their peers really are. Each student makes a quilt square that includes six writing pieces.
At the beginning of the year, have your class make a writing quilt. Students will show off thier hobbies, talents and interests. It is a great way to get to learn more about the students in the class. If the beginning of the year has passed, this lesson can be completed to create a great working environment. Starting the year out rightAt the start of every year, a teacher has her students make a writing quilt. This activity allows the teacher and students get to know each other a little better. In middle school, most teachers have six classes so the quilt can cover two walls. If a teacher has a self-contained class, then the quilt will be much smaller. How to make the quiltEach student will have a block of fabric with his/her name on it and writings that mean something to the student attached. This piece of fabric should have pieces of writing that say something about the student attached to it some way. Students may bring in a 16x12 piece of fabric or chose from what the teacher has. Good organizations to ask for money to buy the material for the quilt are the school academic boosters or the parent teacher organization. Some quilters will donate material as well. Students will be stapling their pieces onto the fabric unless they can sew them on. Gluing is not recommended because students will want most of the items off the quilt square later. As one teacher learned, it is better to borrow a few staplers on the day the students assemble the quilt squares than to have students poking each other with pins. What to put on the quilt?Students should choose at least six pieces of writing. Writing pieces could number as many as a student can fit on the square. The following are favorite items of students from years past:
Remind students that the pieces must be writing that have special meaning to them. If an item is small enough to fit on the fabric and is writing that has special meaning, it is probably appropriate. Middle school students love pictures. The teacher limits each student to two pictures so that the writing takes center stage. Organize assembly dayTo organize, the teacher gives a deadline date when the writing pieces must be collected. It helps the students if the teacher gives a deadline date before the assembly day so that the students do not forget the items at home. A tip is to keep the pieces in a writing folder until the day that the quilt squares are assembled. Some students, particularly girls who like to scrapbook, will want to make the quilt square at home. The teacher allows this along as the students will help the less creative students put together their quilts on the assembly day in class. To reflect...The quilt lesson allows students to show off their unique personalities and hobbies. Every year, the teacher learns important information about the students from the quilts. The most heart-warming item on a quilt was a letter from a mother to her son who had died. Everyone who read the letter cried. It made the class closer that year.
The copyright of the article Writing Quilt Lesson in Lesson Plans & Materials is owned by Kellie Hayden. Permission to republish Writing Quilt Lesson in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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