Q is for Quilt – The Preschool Minnows Quilt Project

Project Title: Q is for Quilt

Description: paper quilt making.

Author: Mary Hager

Grade level or Target Age Range: Preschool

Vocabulary: quilt, working on the letter Q

Materials: Large construction paper, crayons, geometric shapes cut out of colorful paper, glue, real quilted blanket, and the book, The Quilt Story by Tony Johnston and Tomie dePaola.

Anticipatory Set: Reading the book, The Quilt
Story
.

This week the Minnows at Fishtown Tot-Rec were learning the letter Q!!

Demo/Directions:

  • Read the book, The Quilt Story.
  • Show students the real quilt and ask them to touch it. What do they notice? Do the different patches remind them of anything? How do they think the patches are put together?
  • Demonstrate how you would make a paper quilt patch.  Place different shapes next to each other to show how they fit like a puzzle.
  • Also explain that they may choose certain colors because they remind them of a story or a fun time they had in the past.
  • Give each student a large white piece of paper, glue, and scrap pieces of paper.
  • Then let them create their own quilt square!
  • Once everyone’s quilt patch is complete, tape them together on a large piece of paper to make a big quilt! Some students even added black lines between the patches to show that they were sewn together.

Discussion: Share the book, The Quilt Story, with students. Talk about the different stories that each quilted shape may represent. For instance, there were blue shapes, which the students said reminded them of winter. Discuss the different materials that can be used to make a quilt. For example, some quilts are made from scrap fabric, such as old t-shirts and blankets.

Instructional Reflection:

Bringing in a real quilt for the students to feel and look at was very important because it created excitement for the project and fueled their imaginations to think about the type of pattern they wanted to create.
“Transforming Lives Through Art”
~Mary Hager