Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Teacher Guide | Credits

The Process

Each of you will take on a role.  These roles will tell you what type of culture and quilting you will be studying, where you can find the information to share with your group, and what to specifically look for.

Because the web sites that you will be looking at are not just for students, some of the reading might be challenging. We encourage you to use your classroom dictionary as well as the Online Dictionary linked above.

Each role will allow you to read about a specific culture, and most importantly, to see what it is about that culture that is reflected in or has affected their quilt making. Taking full advantage of the resources provided will allow your group to create a patch that will represent each culture accurately. The patches will be displayed together in the class quilt after each is individually presented.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Quilting is a unique American tradition because it has been developed as a union of different ethnic and cultural traditions. Developed as a 'houseware' and as an art form along with the development of our country, quilting has been preserved as a symbol in our tradition as a country. Quilting has come to symbolize the union of African and European traditions in a unique manner. In the following literature this symbol can be seen in the ways that quilts and quilting are used to convey certain themes of self expression, union of opposite values or people, the formation of close bonds among women and kin, heritage, history, family, comfort, love, and commitment. Quilting in America has become a type of symbol used not only for individual artists or authors, but a symbol for a country. (Leigh 1997)

Read the following story to see how quilting united two people from different backgrounds.

Jane and Rebecca Bond

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

Remember, the work of each member of your group is equally important. The only way to complete the mission is uniting to become a team, with each member working to find as much useful research as possible. This mission cannot be completed without TEAMWORK!

Each member will research one type of quilting and share what their findings are with the rest of the group.

Team Roles:
It is important that you read the sites carefully, your whole group is depending on you. No one else will be reading about your culture...this is your specialty. The other members in your group know they can trust you to do a great job so be sure to prove them right!

African Quilting Traditions

Amish Quilting Traditions

Native American Quilting Traditions

Phase 3 - Creating the Patch

Congratulations...you have come this far and done an excellent job. You have read, researched, and toiled...and now the moment has arrived.

It is time to apply the work you have done and create....the patch!

Group Mission
The patch has to incorporate each of the three quilting traditions. You will be given a large piece of cardboard to create your patch on. You will need to collect and bring in materials like felt, ribbons, buttons, markers, and anything else you see fit to use.

Be creative!  Remember, all the group patches are going to be united in order to create one large quilt for the museum.  You have a chance to recreate history.  Make something you can be proud of!

*Don't forget about the web sites you saw displaying examples of quilts. You can always refer back for important pattern ideas.

Individual Mission
Each member is responsible for a short write up explaining how the culture he/she researched is represented in the group patch. The explanation should tell the reader about the traditions and how they are represented in their quilts.