How to Make a Classroom Quilt

Teachers are constantly in search of new and exciting projects in which to involve their students. The best are those that create a learning environment centered on individuality and collaboration. Colorful and expressive, a bulletin-board or wall "quilt" composed of student-created squares makes a personalized, interactive classroom display.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Teach students the history and background on quiltmaking before you get started. It sets the tone for the project and makes it more meaningful. Ask which students have quilts of their own, and what they like about them. Quilts are strong metaphors for many projects and successes in life, and many individual pieces come together to create a beautiful, stronger whole.
2. Place the background for the quilt project and have materials organized. You may want to place your quilt background on the blackboard, bulletin board, classroom door or a spot on the wall.
3. Invite your class to brainstorm for a theme for the quilt if you haven't already developed one. Maybe it's a season, a topic the class is learning about in another subject, or something personal to your school.
4. Hand out "patches", or sheets of paper to each student. Give instructions so that they can cut out the correct size of square. If students are too young, give them pre-cut quilt squares.
5. Provide ample supplies to get their creativity going. From crayons, markers, paint, construction paper, stickers, ribbon and other embellishments, there are plenty of options to get them going.
6. Encourage creativity and individuality with each child's square. Have them write their name on their own square so everyone knows whose is whose once the quilt building begins.
7. Add squares to the quilt as each child finishes the design, and congratulate them on a finished product.