We are in the process of making Freedom Quilts for Black History Month. It is a group project we are doing in fourth and fifth grade. The groups each have their own family of slaves that they must make a quilt for. They all have different routes to follow to the North and must figure out which codes are needed to help their specific family. This one is the first one finished and today I hung it up in our town library as a part the local Black History Month display. We used scrap book paper to acheieve the fabric look.
P.S. Say a prayer for all of us Texas teachers (and Texas students)...if you haven't heard, the whole state is looking at massive education budget cuts. They will let go of 1000 Dallas school district employees next school year. I don't work for that school district but in a smaller Dallas suburb district.
I would love to hear more about this project. . . like how exactly do they figure out which codes the family would need? I'm really interested in this idea! I did freedom quilts but we all just made a square (I made a grid and they colored and sectioned it off to be a traditional design). I honestly think my lesson needed some more interactive element. This sounds really interesting!
ReplyDeleteI wrote different "letters" to the students asking if they could help certain families. They all had different maps, and clues. Also they had "code key" of traditional codes explaining what each code meant. The clues would be thing like "someone will bring you nice clothes to blend in with the free blacks", then they knew they would need the Bowties quilt square. Or if I told them they could only travel at night, they would know they needed the North Star quilt square. At first I thought they might think it was a little boring, but we devoted one whole class period to the discussion of the Underground Railroad, and what it might be like to be a slave. I wanted them to really be passionate about helping their slave family. I think it really hit home with them because I teach at a predominatly African American school. I was actually a little suprised that they didn't know much about the Underground Railroad. They have done a great job so far.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time!
ReplyDeleteI started to talk about the underground railroad with my students and they all already knew so much! They ran the class and blew the plans out of the water. I guess they went on a class trip where they pretended they were traveling the underground railroad. It was cool that they already knew so much. I like how you made a history/design project more interactive!
My 5th graders JUST today finished their quilt squares very similar to your kiddo's but they used paper they had painted. They had a heck of a time cutting their quilt pieces nicely to fit together. Did you have templates for each quilt square? What are the dimensions of each square? Your looks like I had pictured mine turning out!
ReplyDeleteYes, I did make stencils for them to trace. I thought about them doing it on there own and could forsee that being a problem, so I made many many stencils! It was very prep heavy! I had to cut them up and label all the pieces, A, B, C, etc....
ReplyDeleteGreat Job! This is very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteThere is a great book I've read with my art students before quilt projects. It's called, Show Way. The kids really like it. We made actual quilt squares with needle and thread and volunteer help. Next week I'm planning to try 6x6 felt squares and one inch squares, embroidery thread and big needles. I'm definitely reading Show Way again.
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