Sew On and Sew Forth
I stated in my first post that I want to use this space as a place to think and grow. But, I also want to use it to share. It might be hard to understand what I mean about trusting your additions before seeing an example of what I mean and what that means to me in action. One unit of study stands out to me for a couple of reasons: it’s a recent project and it’s a really meaningful one.
I need to begin by sharing about the women in my family and our love for sewing, making, and creating. My Granny could sew anything. She would act like she wasn’t any good, but her talent was obvious. My own Mama is next-level. Not the “makes a few folded napkins on the weekend” kind of seamstress. I’ve watched her make drapes, bed skirts, smocked dresses, costumes, pillows, upholster furniture, and WAY more. My sister even started a business sewing pillows and another one of my grandmother's does beautiful needlework. It’s a family past time and love for sure.
More recently, my mom became interested in quilting. I love to sew, but I really just pick up projects here and there along the way. However, after seeing her begin some new sewing ventures with quilting, I started to become interested too. Long story short, I started my quilting journey. Every time I sat down to begin a new project, I noted the overwhelming amount of mathematic skills and standards I was using. Of course that goes without saying, but teachers just do this. Everything we do, even our pastimes, can connect with what we do in our work. Each measurement I made, each time I calculated my fabric yardage, every shape I chose made me think of my 5th graders. So, like a crazy person I decided to make a quilt with 70 ten year olds. I still wish I had posted a camera in the room when I told them about the project. They almost looked like they felt sorry for me. Like, Mrs. Peters, are you sure about this?
If you are reading this and thinking that you have no interest in sewing, I get it. It does seem really overwhelming and honestly it can be. But I would encourage you to complete even just a portion of this unit with your students. Whether you know how to sew or not. What better opportunity to experience something new together? It’s like teaching. The kids comes to us and there are so many parts and pieces of their personalities that we have to figure out. There are things we have to learn about them along the way. We have to stitch together little pictures in our minds of who they are and figure out the best ways to help them shine. It is not always easy. Some of our best tools don’t work. Some threads break, some ideas rip, some strategies don’t line up. But eventually we make it work together.
I’ve included a link to many parts of this unit in the resources section of the website. It’s written as a math and science project right now, but there are a million things you could do with this unit in a self-contained classroom. The reading and writing possibilities are endless.
This unit is a project of application. We spent time with each of the standards listed, but the sewing unit gave the kids a time to then apply that knowledge in a way that could help them make some meaning of their new knowledge. This unit is at the root of what I mean by trusting your teacher additions. Did my teacher’s edition thoroughly cover 5th grade geometry? Yes. Were standards listed and neat little side bars of information and tips for teachers provided? Yes. Were there worksheets paired for each and every skill within the standard? Oh, yes. Was the perfectly formatted test included in the set? You bet. Will the kids dream about those wonderfully perforated workbook pages? Highly unlikely.
Will they dream about a quilt they made together in 5th grade? I can’t promise that, but I feel a lot better about my chances for getting kids to hold onto those geometry skills. Don’t get me wrong. There are days when those perforated pages are just what we need for extra practice. There are days when those notes and lessons and example problems must happen. It’s just that that cannot be ALL that happens. We have to bring it to life.
