Learning Shapes Through Collaborative Quilts

Langston Hughes Academy, Kindergarten | Math & Visual Art

Ms. Eliza, Mrs. Marshall, and Mrs. Caezer

In Mrs. Caezer and Mrs. Marshall's Kindergarten class, students have been learning about different types of shapes. After reviewing the different shapes and what makes them each unique, students were introduced to quilts. We read a few books explaining what quilts were and I brought in a few quilts I had sewn and had students point out different shapes and feel each one of them to understand that quilts are made up of all different fabrics. We then looked at pictures of quilts and practiced identifying shapes. 

Students were then given cut-out shapes of two different types of paper. They used glue to piece them together into collage quilts! In the next class, both teachers and I reviewed the pattern. We read the book “Pitter Pattern” and learned about how patterns are all around us. We practiced making patterns with shapes. Each student was given their own shape to decorate with shape patterns. Each table then worked together to piece them on a big piece of paper to make their very own collaborative shape quilt. Throughout each step of this project, students practiced offering feedback to each other by highlighting things that they admired in each other’s work. 

Mrs. Ceazer, Mrs. Marshall, and I then worked together to create two long quilts featuring each of the student’s work. We hung them up in the hallway for the whole school to see!

I learned so much from this project. Working in Kindergarten is fairly new for me but through co-teaching with Mrs. Caezer and Mrs. Marshall, I have been able to learn so much about working with Kindergarteners and their needs in the classroom. I have been able to refine the way I give directions and about what Kindergarteners need to understand a concept. My goal for the next few projects is to build skills that allow students to work together collaboratively on a project. This skill is always hard to teach and for students of all ages to grasp but is so important and can lead to fostering interpersonal skills as well.

“Working in Kindergarten is fairly new for me but through co-teaching with Mrs. Caezer and Mrs. Marshall, I have been able to learn so much about working with Kindergarteners and their needs in the classroom. ”