Sewing and Weaving
Submitted by: Jessica & Melissa
Activity 1: Puppet Making (back to top)
Age: 3rd
Activity: Create puppets out of nylon socks stuffed with filling and knotted on the bottom resembling the shape of an eggish human head. Sew the nose and make the lips out of felt and use googly eyes or felt for the eyes and glue them on. For the hair, sew clumps of yarn onto the head. For the clothes, pre cut a generic dress or gown shape out of the felt and sew two pieces together on the seams and then turn other side. Sew head so that it is stable and won't hang down. Every step needs to be demonstrated and the more aids you have the better.
Materials: Nylon stocking socks; yarn for the hair; thread and needles; fabric for the clothes (felt is preferable, easier to sew, sturdier and steadier for handling the puppet); sequins and other little things to decorate puppets; one big cardboard box
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Be sure the needles are specially crafted for children so that no blood is shed, and make sure to supervise carefully so that the children’s faces never get covered by any of the material and cause suffocation.
Standards:
Visual Arts - Applications to Life
Standard 1: The student makes connections between the visual arts, other disciplines, and the real world. (VA.E.1.1)
1. Understands that people create art for various reasons and that everyday objects are designed by artists.
Visual Arts - Skills and Techniques
Standard 1: The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes. (VA.A.1.1)
1. Uses two-dimensional and three-dimensional media, techniques, tools, and processes to depict works of art from personal experiences, observation, or imagination.
Activity 2: Spider Webs (back to top)
Age: 2nd-3rd
Activity:Have the students use the Geoboards to create a web. Then have the students use the graphics software to spin their own webs in the same sequence a spider uses and add a spider to the web. Then print the spiders in their webs for display.
Materials: One or multiple computers; printer; software: word processing, graphics; geoboards.
Preparations/Safety Precautions: None
Standards:
Mathematics- Geometry and Spatial Sense
Standard 2: The student visualizes and illustrates ways in which shapes can be combined, subdivided, and changed. (MA.C.2.1)
1. Understands basic concepts of spatial relationships, symmetry, and reflections.
2. Uses objects to perform geometric transformations, including flips, slides, and turns.
Activity 3: Making your own book (back to top)
Age: 2nd-3rd
Activity:Have the children decide on a song they would like to make a book for. They can cut the lining to make pages and use needles the weave the yarn in and out to make pictures. They can also write the words of the music if they wish on paper and sew that onto the pages as well.
Materials: Cabinet lining (foamy type, with holes in it), different color yarn, needles
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Be sure the needles are specially crafted for children so that no blood is shed!
Standards:
Visual Arts- Skills and Techniques
Standard 1: The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes. (VA.A.1.1)
1. uses two-dimensional and three-dimensional media, techniques, tools, and processes to depict works of art from personal experiences, observation, or imagination.
Music- Applications to Life
Standard 1: The student understands the relationship between music,
the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts. (MU.E.1.1)
1. understands how concepts within and between art forms are related.
2. understands how music is related to other subjects.
Activity 4: Patterning through string bracelets (back to top)
Age: 2nd and up
Activity: First, the teacher must be knowledgeable in creating bracelets using the weaving string in the shape of a #4 process so that she can demonstrate to the children in small groups and supervise. The children, during small group time, will choose four colors of string with which to make a pattern and cut each piece 24” long. They will make an ABCD pattern by weaving the string into a bracelet.
Materials: Different color crafting string
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Make sure scissors are safe for children
Standards:
Mathematics- Number Sense, Concepts, and Operations
Standard 2: The student understands number systems. (MA.A.2.1)
2. uses number patterns and the relationships among counting, grouping, and place value strategies to demonstrate an understanding of the whole number system.
Visual Arts- Creation and Communication
Standard 1: The student creates and communicates a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas using knowledge of structures and functions of visual arts. (VA.B.1.1)
3. knows a variety of purposes for creating works of art.
Activity 5: Spider Webs (back to top)
Age: K
Activity: During the month of October, have the children create their own spider webs and spiders by using yarn and gluing it into a spider web pattern and using their imagination to make the spiders. Hang them up around the classroom as decoration for a fall festivity!
Materials: Colored construction paper, colored yarn, glue, scissors
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Make sure the scissors are safe for young children and glue stays out of the mouth.
Standards:
Mathematics- Geometry and Spatial Sense
Standard 2:
The student visualizes and illustrates ways in which shapes can be combined, subdivided, and changed. (MA.C.2.1)
1. Understands basic concepts of spatial relationships, symmetry, and reflections.
2. Uses objects to perform geometric transformations, including flips, slides, and turns.
Visual Arts- Skills and Techniques
Standard 1: The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes. (VA.A.1.1)
1. uses two-dimensional and three-dimensional media, techniques, tools, and processes to depict works of art from personal experiences, observation, or imagination.
Activity 6: Self-portrait (back to top)
Age: K-3rd
Activity: Have children bring in a picture of themselves from home. Have them create a self-portrait as best they can according to the picture using the materials provided. Encourage them to use a variety of colors of yarn to make their hair color as close to the real thing as possible.
Materials: White paper, crayons, markers, watercolors, glue, yarn
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Make sure scissors are safe for young children.
Standards:
Visual Arts- Skills and Techniques
Standard 1: The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes. (VA.A.1.1)
1. uses two-dimensional and three-dimensional media, techniques, tools, and processes to depict works of art from personal experiences, observation, or imagination.
Theatre- Aesthetic and Critical Analysis
Standard 1: The student assesses, evaluates, and responds to the characteristics of works of art. (VA.D.1.1)
3. knows the difference between an original work of art and a reproduction.
Activity 7: Making jewelry and accessories (back to top)
Age: K-3rd
Activity: During a large group time, have the children create different types of jewelry using yarn. The jewelry will be placed in the dramatic play area for the children to use during centers. Encourage the creation of rings, necklaces, bracelets, crowns, belts, etc.
Materials: Yarn, scissors
Preparations/Safety Precautions: None
Standards:
Visual Arts- Skills and Techniques
Standard 1: The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes. (VA.A.1.1)
1. uses two-dimensional and three-dimensional media, techniques, tools, and processes to depict works of art from personal experiences, observation, or imagination.
Theatre- Skills and Techniques
Standard 1: The student acts by developing, communicating, and sustaining characters in improvisation and formal or informal productions. (TH.A.1.1)
5. understands the similarities and differences between play acting, pretending, and real life.
Activity 8: Yarn Math- Measurement (back to top)
Age: K-3rd
Activity: Provide each child with five pieces of precut yarn strips and a ruler. Have them place the pieces of yarn on their paper, tape them down, and measure (in inches) how long each piece is.
Materials: Yarn, rulers, writing utensils, paper, tape
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Make sure the tape never gets placed over the mouth.
Standards:
Mathematics- Number Sense, Concepts, and Operations
Standard 3: The student estimates measurements in real-world problem situations. (MA.B.3.1)
1. using a variety of strategies, estimates lengths, widths, time intervals, and money and compares them to actual measurements.
Visual Arts- Skills and Techniques
Standard 1: The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes. (VA.A.1.1)
2. uses art materials and tools to develop basic processes and motor skills, in a safe and
responsible manner.
Activity 9: Practicing Numbers and Letters (back to top)
Age: K-3rd
Activity: As a group, the children will follow instructions on what number or letter to create by sewing the yarn into their chosen medium. The teacher should call out a number or letter and the children should make it (if a letter, wither capital or lowercase), and hold them up so that everyone can compare and contrast the different ways of making the same thing.
Materials: Yarn, needle, paper and/or foamy, holey cabinet liner
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Needles should be safe for young children.
Standards:
Language Arts- Listening, Viewing, and Speaking
Standard 1: The student uses listening strategies effectively. (LA.C.1.1)
1. listens for a variety of informational purposes, including curiosity, pleasure, getting directions, performing tasks, solving problems, and following rules.
Language Arts- Writing
Standard 2: The student writes to communicate ideas and information effectively. (LA.B.2.1)
4. composes simple sets of instructions for simple tasks using logical sequencing of steps.
Activity 10: Textures (back to top)
Age: K-3rd
Activity: Provide the children with a variety of materials with different textures. The children are to create a texture collage using the yarn to connect the pieces they are working with be sewing the yarn through them. Encourage the children to use words that describe the different textures and observe other’ art pieces as well.
Materials: Variety of textures (ex: sandpaper, coffee filters, cotton, etc.), yarn, needles
Preparations/Safety Precautions:Needles should be safe for young children
Standards:
Science- The Nature of Matter
Standard 1: The student understands that all matter has observable, measurable properties. (SC.A.1.1)
1. knows that objects can be described, classified, and compared by their composition (e.g., wood or metal) and their physical properties (e.g., color, size, and shape).
Visual Arts- Skills and Techniques
Standard 1: The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes. (VA.A.1.1)
1. uses two-dimensional and three-dimensional media, techniques, tools, and processes to depict works of art from personal experiences, observation, or imagination.
Activity 11: Weaving Seaweed (back to top)
Age: 2nd-3rd
Activity: During the unit on beaches, the teacher should collect lots of seaweed from the beach shoreline. Using the seaweed, help the children learn how to make braids, and how to weave patterns. Let the seaweed dry and observe the changes in texture, stiffness, etc. Parent volunteers would be very helpful for this activity.
Materials: Seaweed
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Remind the children not to eat the seaweed.
Standards:
Science- The Nature of Matter
Standard 1: The student understands that all matter has observable, measurable properties. (SC.A.1.1)
2. recognizes that the same material can exist in different states.
3. verifies that things can be done to materials to change some of their physical properties (e.g., cutting, heating, and freezing), but not all materials respond the same way (e.g., heating causes water to boil and sugar to melt).Visual Arts- Skills and Techniques
Standard 1: The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes. (VA.A.1.1)
2. uses art materials and tools to develop basic processes and motor skills, in a safe and
responsible manner.
3. distinguishes the differences within and among art materials, techniques, processes, and organizational structures such as elements and principles of design.
Activity 12: Making "Twister"s! (back to top)
Age: 3rd
Activity: Demonstrate to the children what a pre-made “twister” looks like. Have them cut one piece of paper into three long strips and fold them in half. Show them how to weave the paper in such a way that the outcome is a “twister”. Allow them to take their projects outside and play with them. Allow them to decorate their projects if time permits. This is a good introduction to a unit on helicopters and other forms of transportation.
Materials: Scissors, paper
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Scissors should be safe for young children.
Standards:
Visual Arts- Skills and Techniques
Standard 1: The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes. (VA.A.1.1)
1. uses two-dimensional and three-dimensional media, techniques, tools, and processes to depict works of art from personal experiences, observation, or imagination.
Science- The Nature of Matter
Standard 1: The student understands that all matter has observable, measurable properties. (SC.A.1.1)
3. verifies that things can be done to materials to change some of their physical properties (e.g., cutting, heating, and freezing), but not all materials respond the same way (e.g., heating causes water to boil and sugar to melt).
Activity 13: Weaving Pasta! (back to top)
Age: 2nd-3rd
Activity: Cover the tabletops with newspaper. Provide each child with several pieces of boiled pasta of varying types. Allow them to create whatever they want by experimenting with the shapes, sizes, etc. Give the children one condition: By the end of the activity, all the pasta must be joined together somehow! Have the children compare their works of art. They may keep the pasta in the classroom to dry and to later discuss the changes pasta undergoes as time elapses.
Materials: Boiled spaghetti, egg noodles, and other types of pasta, newspaper
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The pasta should not be eaten for sanitary purposes.
Standards:
Science- The Nature of Matter
Standard 1: The student understands that all matter has observable, measurable properties. (SC.A.1.1)
2. recognizes that the same material can exist in different states.
3. verifies that things can be done to materials to change some of their physical properties (e.g., cutting, heating, and freezing), but not all materials respond the same way (e.g., heating causes water to boil and sugar to melt).
Visual Arts- Skills and Techniques
Standard 1: The student understands and applies media, techniques, and processes. (VA.A.1.1)
2. uses art materials and tools to develop basic processes and motor skills, in a safe and
responsible manner.
Activity 14: Paper Chains (back to top)
Age: K
Activity: Precut various colors of construction paper into strips about 9” long. Have the children choose a pattern they want to create (ABC, ABCDD, etc.). Provide them with as many different colors of construction paper strips as needed for their pattern. In small groups, sit at the table with the children and staple their pattern together one by one as they weave the correct color into the last link to make a pattern. Hang the patterns around the room and have other children try to guess the different patterns.
Materials: Different colored construction paper, stapler
Preparations/Safety Precautions: children should not handle the stapler
Standards:
Mathematics- Number Sense, Concepts, and Operations
Standard 2: The student understands number systems. (MA.A.2.1)
2. uses number patterns and the relationships among counting, grouping, and place value strategies to demonstrate an understanding of the whole number system.
Visual Arts- Creation and Communication
Standard 1: The student creates and communicates a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas using knowledge of structures and functions of visual arts. (VA.B.1.1)
3. knows a variety of purposes for creating works of art.
Activity 15: Class Quilt (back to top)
Age: K-3rd
Activity: Have the children draw a design or picture of their choice on a piece of white paper. Collect the drawings after they are completed. Cut as many squares from the white bed sheet as children there are in the class. During breaks, planning time, or at home, iron the pictures onto a sheet square (you may want parents to help with this at home to save time). During center time each day, call on as many children as time will allow, one by one, to sew their piece of art onto a previous piece of art created by a classmate. It may take a few weeks, but in the end you will have a class quilt everyone has contributes to.
Materials: White bed sheet, fabric crayons, iron, paper, yarn, needle
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Use needle safe for young children and do not allow children to get near iron.
Standards:
Mathematics- Geometry and Spatial Sense
Standard 2: The student visualizes and illustrates ways in which shapes can be combined, subdivided, and changed. (MA.C.2.1)
1. Understands basic concepts of spatial relationships, symmetry, and reflections.
Science- The Nature of Matter
Standard 1: The student understands that all matter has observable, measurable properties. (SC.A.1.1)
3. verifies that things can be done to materials to change some of their physical properties (e.g., cutting, heating, and freezing), but not all materials respond the same way (e.g., heating causes water to boil and sugar to melt).