Title:  UNSUNG HEROES OF THE CIVIL WAR/UNDERGROUND RAILROAD QUILTS

Grade Level:  9 - 12

Subject(s): Language Arts, Social Studies, Technology, Art, Library Skills.

Learner Outcome: MMI/MMO students will develop a basic awareness of directional map skills from non map items by using technology methods to research quilt history, working in small groups interpret and make observations to help understand quilt makers and their methods of aiding the Civil War effort.

Time Frame: Two days @ 90 min/class period.

Materials: Maps, Eleanor Burns Quilters in History ,Civil War Quilters, Fabric Paint/markers, 16"x16" Muslin Squares, Sewing Notions, Library Media Center/Lab.

Technology Tools/Courseware:  Internet, word processor, Quilt Pro Software (if available)

Teacher Notes:

• Letter to local Quilt Guilds concerning possible examples of Civil War Era quilts and or possible quilt historians for supplemental guest speakers.
• Parent notification form and request for parent input on subject should be sent in advance of actual sewing work.
• Collect sewing notions/worksheets for at least 11 students and a demonstration packet.
• Develop rubric for self assessment for each step on each day.
• Develop teacher rubric.

• Sewing Safety using needles, scissors and sewing notions should be demonstrated fully prior to beginning actually developing the individual block.
• Web on marker board people who would work in the background toward  accomplishing the war effort with out firing a gun.
• Using the Internet, civil war and/or a search engine of choice under the topic Quilt History - Civil War find persons that were credited with aiding the Underground Railroad effort using the cited references.
• Print copies of quilt blocks sighted in the Internet information for possible replication on muslin squares.
• Closure activities, self check rubric, to check for understanding. Discuss step by step procedure for practical application on day 2.

• Students working in groups of two, choose block from day 1 to replicate on the muslin squares.
• Trace pattern on square and color using fabric paints/markers.
• Document/reference the original user of the square; approximate year of its use based on models in reference materials.
• Orally discuss, in round table fashion, with the class individual blocks and their importance to the Civil War effort.
• Working with partners, combine muslin squares, with needle and thread and then combine all pairs in the class to form a small quilt top that could be quilted at a later date if so desired.
• Round table discussion to review
• concepts and importance to the Civil War effort.
• Closure activities self check rubric and teacher rubric. Display completed top in prominent area of the school.

    This activity could be used with the "regular" student body but the time lines may have to be altered.

Enrichment Activities:

    Students could make arrangements with grandparents/relatives to bring in family items that relate to the Civil War Era.

Evaluation/Assessments:

• Student self evaluation rubric.
• Teacher evaluation rubric.
• Block Completion

Social Studies 9.30, 9.42, 10.60
This lesson plan corresponds to Language Arts IGOs 9-12 in the following categories:

• writing skills
• reading comprehension
• listening/speaking
• computer technology
• study skills

References:

Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad Site
Historical Quilts Hot Links
Civil War
National Geographic Underground Railroad
Planet patchwork
History of Quilting
Background Graphic courtesy of Rita Denenberg's Quilt Page

Created By: Jane Meador, Linda Meadows, Betty Jo Williams at Summers County High School, Summers County, Hinton, West Virginia, 25951