Early Childhood

The Essential Question
How can students use shapes and colors to create a balanced design?

Objective
Students will use layering and overlapping to create a paper quilt square

Materials
12 x 12" (30 x 30 cm) white paper squares, ¼ x 12" (1 x 30 cm) strips of black paper (two per student), variety of precut colored paper shapes, glue, scissors (for advanced students), quilt for students to examine

Procedures

1. Read students a variety of books about quilts. Bring a quilt to class for students to examine. Ask them to describe the shapes, colors, and sizes they see.
2. Distribute the white paper squares. Students glue the first black paper strip horizontally and the other vertically to create four squares/sections.
3. Students select shapes in varying sizes and colors. They can cut out their own shapes or use pre-cut shapes. Ask students to create a design by overlapping and layering their shapes.
4. Students glue their shapes in each section of their paper square.

Wendy Libby is an elementary educator at Fruit Street School in Bangor, Maine.