Math: Quilting Geometry
Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt Interdisciplinary Unit
By Cynthia Weeden

Overview

Students study geometry through the concepts of quilt design. Students will produce their own quilt and discuss the reasons why they chose their designs.

Time Required

One to two class periods.

Materials Needed

• Polygon Quilt Game Sheet
• Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt
• Computer Lab
• Colored Pencils

Anticipatory Set

Ask students if anyone has a homemade patchwork quilt at their house. Then, talk about how many families have quilts, each one with a unique design. Tell students: "Today we are going to look at tangrams and relate how quilts are made using geometry."

Procedures

1. Read the book, Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt, with the class. Focus on the part where Clara shows her aunt the quilt she is sewing and the interesting patterns it has. The slaves who are trying to escape use the quilt patterns to remember directions to freedom.



2. Remind students of how Clara used word-of-mouth from slaves to design her quilt to freedom. Following from this, students will be able to design their own quilts.



3. First, go to the following web site and print the Polygon Quilt Game:
   http://teams.lacoe.edu/documentation/classrooms/amy/geometry/3-4/activities/quilt.html



4. Have students play two rounds of the game and then gather back together as a class.



5. Reserve the computer lab and have students go to:
   http://womensearlyart.net/quilts/index.html. Make sure students click the link "Tangram Quilt Designs." Students then can browse through many designs and play with colors right on the computer.



6. Have students print a black and white copy of their design so they can take it back to the classroom and color it.



7. Closure: Ask students if they had a reason for picking a certain design or using colors.

Assessment

Grade students on their participation during the game and how neatly their tangram design is colored.

For Older Students

Have students create their own "quilt" using geometric shapes and tessellations as they learn about symmetry, rotation, and slides. They can make these tessellations by cutting cardstock into a design.

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