A Stitch in Time!
An Internet WebQuest on Quilting Traditions

Original project created by Laurie Gassett, Rebecca Schultz, and Kasey Yetman
Project redesign created by Heather Eysaman, Susan Price and Kristin Smith.

Introduction

Attention Attention! This is an important news brief. The Museum of Natural History has just been burglarized! We need your help to restore the missing items. YOU have been selected as scholarly and creative students who will help us restore history.

Your mission is to design a new patch to replace the museum's prized possession: the historical quilt. To complete this mission you will need background information on quilting. You will use this information to create a patch that incorporates parts of three different types of quilting patterns: African, Amish, and Native American.

You have been recommended as the best and brightest for the job. Do not let us down. The Museum will never last if its most important piece of history is not restored.

Good luck! We are counting on you!.

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The Task

You and your classmates have been selected to create a new quilt to replace what has been stolen from the museum.  Working in groups of three, you will research different quilting traditions.  Each member will research one of the following cultures: African
Amish
Native American

For each culture there will be several sites to visit.  There will be questions to answer about the readings and tips to point out what is important at each site.  Pay close attention to the many pictures that show the different styles that are unique to each culture.  Once your work is completed, you will work as a group to create a patch of the quilt which incorporates each of the three cultures.  Patches from each group will be put together to create a large quilt for the museum, uniting three separate cultures in one quilt.

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The Process

In order for your group to complete this WebQuest, you will be directed to several sites that will help you to learn more about quilts.

Each of you will take on a role.  These roles will tell you what type of culture and quilting you will be studying, where you can find the information to share with your group, and what to specifically look for.

Because the web sites that you will be looking at are not just for students, some of the reading might be challenging. We encourage you to use your classroom dictionary as well as the Online Dictionary linked above.

Each role will allow you to read about a specific culture, and most importantly, to see what it is about that culture that is reflected in or has affected their quilt making. Taking full advantage of the resources provided will allow your group to create a patch that will represent each culture accurately. The patches will be displayed together in the class quilt after each is individually presented.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Quilting is a unique American tradition because it has been developed as a union of different ethnic and cultural traditions. Developed as a 'houseware' and as an art form along with the development of our country, quilting has been preserved as a symbol in our tradition as a country. Quilting has come to symbolize the union of African and European traditions in a unique manner. In the following literature this symbol can be seen in the ways that quilts and quilting are used to convey certain themes of self expression, union of opposite values or people, the formation of close bonds among women and kin, heritage, history, family, comfort, love, and commitment. Quilting in America has become a type of symbol used not only for individual artists or authors, but a symbol for a country. (Leigh 1997)

Read the following story to see how quilting united two people from different backgrounds.

Jane and Rebecca Bond

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

Remember, the work of each member of your group is equally important. The only way to complete the mission is uniting to become a team, with each member working to find as much useful research as possible. This mission cannot be completed without TEAMWORK!

Each member will research one type of quilting and share what their findings are with the rest of the group.

Team Roles:
It is important that you read the sites carefully, your whole group is depending on you. No one else will be reading about your culture...this is your specialty. The other members in your group know they can trust you to do a great job so be sure to prove them right!

African Quilting Traditions

Amish Quilting Traditions

Native American Quilting Traditions

 

Phase 3 - Creating the Patch

Congratulations...you have come this far and done an excellent job. You have read, researched, and toiled...and now the moment has arrived.

It is time to apply the work you have done and create....the patch!

Group Mission
The patch has to incorporate each of the three quilting traditions. You will be given a large piece of cardboard to create your patch on. You will need to collect and bring in materials like felt, ribbons, buttons, markers, and anything else you see fit to use.

Be creative!  Remember, all the group patches are going to be united in order to create one large quilt for the museum.  You have a chance to recreate history.  Make something you can be proud of!

*Don't forget about the web sites you saw displaying examples of quilts. You can always refer back for important pattern ideas.
 

Individual Mission
Each member is responsible for a short write up explaining how the culture he/she researched is represented in the group patch. The explanation should tell the reader about the traditions and how they are represented in their quilts.

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Evaluation

Overall, your group will be evaluated throughout the WebQuest, making cooperation and contribution an important part of your grade.  This and the following areas will be taken into consideration for an individual and group grade.

Individual:
Each group member will be required to write a one to two page summary of the information that was found while researching his or her role.  The summary should include information pertaining to the questions and points to focus that are provided for each web site, as well as any additional information that was found. Group Creativity:
It is important to see how the group was able to incorporate the information that was found on each of the cultures into making a representative square.  A short summary explaining the designs that make up your quilt and why they were included and what they represent is also needed.

Group Presentation:
This grade will be based on the group's presentation of its square to the class.  Because all groups are viewing the same sites, the presentation is meant for groups to share one or two unique points that they may have found in addition to pointing out key designs in the square and what they represent.  Each group member should be responsible for explaining what is relevant to his or her own role.
Group work is an essential aspect of this web quest.  Please view this rubric for evaluation guidelines: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/triton/tidepoolunit/Rubrics/collrubric.html

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Conclusion

Congratulations on a job well done!

The museum committee is grateful for all of the hard work that you have done. The quilt is a success! Now people everywhere can come to the museum and learn about the African, Amish, and Native American cultures for years to come. Now that you have learned about how important quilting is in telling a story, or representing the lives of the people in these cultures, go home and ask your parents if anyone in your family has made a quilt. You might be surprised at what you can learn. Has no one in your family started a quilt? Do not let your mission end here...begin your own patch and see who follows.

Remember, a stitch in time lasts forever!

 

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Last updated on June 20, 2002.
Based on a template from The WebQuest Page