LEARNING TO WEAVE

Title of Lesson: Learning to weave

Subject Area: Social Studies

Grade Level: second

Objectives:

Materials Needed:

Procedures:

  1. Discuss the children's clothing as it relates to weaving. Review what they learned from the guest speaker on weaving by asking them how their clothes were made.
  2. Discuss how shopping for clothes has changed since the pioneer times. Ask the children what the differences are.
  3. Tell the students they are going to listen to a story about a mother and how she made clothes for her family. Tell them to focus on how she weaves. Tell them to look for similarities in what the guest speaker said about weaving.
  4. Read the story and discuss how the mother weaved.
  5. Tell the students that they are going to have a chance to learn how to do a type of weaving. Send the students to their desk and have one child from each table come and pick up the materials needed for that table. The weaving steps are as follows:
    1. a. cut drinking straws in half and cut one warp string for each straw (strings should be equal in length and as long as the finished product will be).

      b. Tie all warp strings together in a knot. Place knotted end of warp at top of straws and thread each string through a separate straw (suck on straw to get string through easier).

      c. Push straws up to the knotted ends (photo A) and weave over and under the straws. Begin a pattern (photos B and C).

      d. Add a new color by tying a knot to the previous color and continue weaving. As the weaving progresses, push the woven section up and off the straws, freeing them for more weaving (photo D).

      e. Slip straws off the warp when weaving is finished. Weave the end strings into one another so they won't unravel.

      Variations: Use several strands of warp through each straw. This allows for more intricate weaving. Vary materials used for weft (middle). Use pieces of straw as part of the design. Sew completed pieces into new forms or superimpose on a burlap background. Make belts or ties.(Source Unknown)

Evaluation: