National Endowment for the Humanities
History in Quilts
Learners investigate the use of cloth-based art forms intended to pass down traditions and history. They research types of quilts, quilt characteristics and then identify how Freedom Quilts were historically used in the US.
Curated OER
Family Quilts Keep Us Warm
Students explore different types of families and cultures. They create a paper quilt with geometric designs of similar colors to show unity and pictures of each of their families to show diversity.
Curated OER
The Family Quilt
Third graders examine the artwork of Faith Ringgold. They create their own quilt pattern on fabric and piece them together to create a class quilt. They compare their similarities with one another.
Museum of Tolerance
Quilt Activity
After completing the first five lessons from the series, scholars assemble their quilt pieces to create a family history quilt. They then rate their experience of learning about their families by conducting interviews, creating family...
Curated OER
Quilt Block Collage
Learn the art of quilting with this lesson plan that can be connected to a history lesson on quilts in Ancient Egypt, China, and modern art. After studying a general history of quilts, its uses, and the history of different patterns,...
Curated OER
Stories in Quilts
Have your class analyze the narrative art in quilts. They identify elements in this domestic art and the stories they tell. They define a story quilt, view an example, and analyze the work of Harriet Power. This is a great lesson to...
Curated OER
Family Quilts Keep us Warm
Students explore families and culture. In this family and culture activity, students discuss their families and their similarities and differences. Students read the book The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco and create their own quilt...
Museum of Tolerance
Cultural Research Activity
Class members explore cultural diversity through a variety of texts that showcase the importance of traditions. Then, they interview their family members to research their own cultural background and write their findings on quilt pieces....
Museum of Tolerance
Artifact Research Activity
Artifacts give us the privilege of learning about the past, may it be family, culture, or traditions. Here, class members learn about their family's past with the help of an artifact, or family heirloom. Once an artifact is discovered,...
Curated OER
Story Quilt Project
Students investigate how quilt making was a family and community activity. They read and discuss books, complete various handouts, and create a paper quilt celebrating philanthropic activities.
Curated OER
Quilting Our Diverse Classroom
Students explore diversity and race by creating art. In this ethnic background instructional activity, students discuss their family history, where their relatives lived and how it affects their life today. Students create pieces of a...
Curated OER
Class Quilt
First graders engage in a lesson which promote acceptance of diversity within the classroom through the creation of a class quilt. They evaluate the final product to find commonalities with other students.
Museum of Tolerance
Oral History Activity
Oral history has brought a multitude of lessons, stories, and factoids to our current knowledge of the past. Let us continue to use oral history traditions through a lesson that encourages pupils to discover and appreciate where they...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan on Family History and Past Generations
Second graders listen to The Keeping Quilt and through class/small group discussion relate this story to beliefs, customs, and traditions of their own families. They make a class quilt based on these discussions.
Curated OER
Quilting
Second graders make a quilt. In this cultural diversity lesson plan, 2nd graders review their knowledge of the Metis people. Students work in groups to create a class quilt that illustrates the lives of these people. Quilt themes include...
Curated OER
Making the Connection With Quilts
Fourth graders explore history of Underground Railroad in Indiana and discover how slaves were assisted on their journey using codes displayed in different quilt blocks. Students examine connection quilts have to ancestry and family...
Curated OER
Quilting - A Pioneer Craft
Fifth graders explore quilting in pioneer families. In this quilting instructional activity, 5th graders review the history of quilts, the role of women, and quilting patterns. They create their own pattern and quilt square.
Curated OER
Making the Connection With Quilts
Fourth graders engage in a lesson which integrates the study of the Underground Railroad in Indiana with a Language Arts unit on quilts. They write a book report on one of the quilt books read in class and design a quilt block for the...
Curated OER
Geometry and Quilting
Students create a quilt square for a class quilt using at least three, two-dimensional geometric figures. They research and write a brief description of at least two different quilt patterns that they find. Pupils discuss that quilts are...
Curated OER
Personal Narrative Paragraphs: Class Quilt
Begin this activity by asking third graders to bring from home pieces of cloth that represent something important to them. (Have extras for learners who need them.) They reflect on important events in their lives, compose narrative...
Curated OER
Family Quilts Keep Us Warm
Students discuss and describe the differences and similarities in families. After reciting finger plays about families, they draw pictures of their own families. Next, they incorporate their family pictures into a paper quilt.
Indian Land Tenure Foundation
A Leadership Chart
It's important for children to understand how they fit into their local or social community. They discuss leadership and who exemplifies a leader in their family, community, and school. Each child will create a quilt square by...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Quilt
Students discuss what they are thankful for this year. They create their own quilt square to illustrate what they are most thankful for. They use the quilt after it is sewn together by their teacher.
Curated OER
A Quilt of Many Colors
First graders learn the "Quilt Song." They brainstorm items they could draw that would remind them of the person in the song. Students work in groups to complete a "Person Outline" page (included with the lesson). They draw one part of...