Taylor T.

Jeff Tam

The middle-school years are a wonderful time for students to learn that words matter. In this lesson, the key concept is communication. Students used text on fabric to share their ideas and created word pillows with an inspiring message.

Opening with Quotes
I began the lesson with a few quotes and reminded my young artists that these words and others have shaped our country.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.”
—The Declaration of Independence

“I have a dream.”
—Martin Luther King Jr.

Words Have Power
We discussed how and why words matter. Words have the power to inspire our actions and bring people together. I shared that locally in Hawaii, people are protesting the Red Hill fuel leak, holding up signs that read “Water Is Life,” “Ka Wai Ola,” and “Protect Our Water.” Then I showed students images of Robert Indiana’s LOVE and Shepard Fairey’s Hope, both iconic works that express positive ideals for humanity.

Words have the power to inspire our actions and bring people together.

After our discussion, I asked students, “What are your words?” I asked them to brainstorm and write down in their notebooks any words, phrases, or lyrics that have inspired them.

Preparing the Fabric
To prepare for the project, I purchased muslin fabric in rolls and cut them into 6 x 24" (15 x 61 cm) strips. Then I dyed the strips in various colors such as red, blue, or pink. Each student chose three fabric strips of any color to write their words. The words needed to be decorated and carefully checked for spelling before sewing began. I also provided students with a variety of stencils and fabric markers to use.

Finishing the Pillows
Once the designs were finished, students learned how to sew them together to make a pillow. I used a YouTube video and did in-class demonstrations of basic sewing techniques. The pillows were stuffed with lightweight polyester fiberfill, which students love.

Soft-sculpture pillows expressing sixth-grade messages of hope were the end result. They are beautiful, functional, and can be shared or exchanged as gifts. More importantly, when asked about their pillows, students will remember that words matter.

Jeff Tam is an art teacher at Niu Valley Middle School in Honolulu, Hawaii. uspoor33@gmail.com