Materials
White glue or liquid starch
Small containers
Fabric squares, various textures, 1" (3 cm) square
Poster board in any color, 9" x 12" (23 cm x 30 cm)Paintbrushes
Instructions
1. Ahead of time, pour glue or starch into small containers. Lay an assortment of fabric squares onthe table.
2. Supply each child with poster board and a brush.
3. Invite the children to select fabric squares for their quilt and lay them in a pattern on theirposter board.
4. After they have finished designing their quilt, show them how to lift the squares, a few at atime, and glue them to the poster board.More to doCircle time: Bring in a quilt and show the children how one is made. Encourage the children totalk about their own blankets and why they are special. Invite the children to touch the fabricsquares and describe the textures and differences they feel. Older children can describe the patternin the quilt or quilts.Dramatic play: Pretend it is bedtime and act out a bedtime ritual. Make a cave or fort with blankets.Put baby dolls to bed.Math: Create patterns with the fabric squares.More art: Decorate fabric squares with fabric crayons or paints and create a class quilt. Ask olderchildren to tie the quilt. Make a bed for clothespin dolls by folding an 8" (20 cm) square piece offabric, wrong sides together, leaving a 1" (3 cm) overlap at the top. Then sew side seams and threevertical seams, creating four equal pockets, or beds, for the clothespin babies.
