For K-12 Teachers

Identifying Geometric Patterns in Quilts Lesson Plan

Identifying Geometric Patterns in Quilts aims to combine math and visual art concepts to enrich understanding of both. Students will practice visual analysis and pattern recognition skills in observation and discussion of quilts, refining their analysis and geometry skills by reproducing observed patterns and then creating their own. This lesson plan is flexible, with suggested simplifications and expansions based on grade level.

Grades K-3, 50-90 minutes, Visual Arts, Math

This unit can be used to support Nebraska and Common Core Standards for Visual Arts and Mathematics.

Click here to download the lesson plan PDF.

For the Love of Gaia: Art and Environmentalism

For the Love of Gaia: Art and Environmentalism is a flexible unit plan for teachers developed in collaboration with Lincoln Public Schools. The unit explores interconnections between art and the artist’s relationship with global issues such as environmentalism and climate change, and offers opportunities for examinations of art and science topics as well as research into current events. 

Grades 4-12, Visual Arts, Social Studies, Science 

This unit can be used to support Nebraska Standards for Fine Arts, Social Studies and Science.

Click here to access this unit plan.

ReadWorks

The International Quilt Museum partnered with ReadWorks to create a series of quilt and history-focused reading lessons for Grades 2-6. You will need a free ReadWorks account to access the articles and eBooks; the materials are presented in both text and audio formats. 

Modules include:

• Shapes in Quilts (Kindergarten)
• Stories in Quilts (Grade 1)
• What is a Quilt?/Quilt Basics (Grade2)
• Kinds and Uses of Quilts (Grade 3)
• Quilts in America (Grade 4)
• Quilts in Central Asia (Grade 4)
• Technology and Quilts (Grade 5)
• Quilting and Social Issues (Grade 6)
• African and African American Quiltmaking Traditions (Grade 7)
• Indigenous Quilting Traditions Around the World (Grade 8)

eBooks:

• Quilts in Everyday Life in Central Asia
• How Do Quilts Get Their Names?

Exhibition-Based Activities

These activities were created to accompany some of the International Quilt Museum’s exhibitions. The virtual version of the exhibitions can still be accessed on our website for pictures of the quilts, context and further investigation.

Design Dynamics of Log Cabin Quilts
Coloring Sheet (all ages)
View the exhibition

Dualities: Emiko Toda Loeb
Coloring Book (all ages) 
View the exhibition

The Whole Story 
Coloring Book (ages 8+)
Connect the Dots Worksheet (ages 7+)
View the virtual exhibition 

Eiko Okano’s Delectable World
Coloring Sheet
View the exhibition 

Old World Quilts
Coloring Sheet (all ages)
View the exhibition 

Jean Ray Laury: Getting It All Together
"Magenta Forest" Coloring Sheet (all ages)
View the exhibition

Block by Block: American Quilts in the Industrial Age
"My Sweet Sister Emma" Coloring Sheet (all ages)
View the exhibition 

General Activities

Make a Patchwork Otedama (video tutorial)

My Quilt of Me Coloring Sheet (all ages)

Quilt Block Pattern Word Search (ages 9+)

"White Bison Star Quilt" by Lulu Red Cloud Coloring Sheet (all ages) View the quilt

World Quilts is a series of websites that offers in depth information about a range of quilts from various places around the world. Modules include:

• The American Story
• The Amish Story
• The Central Asian Story
• The Crazy Quilt Story
• The 1971 Story

New modules are always in development, so check back regularly for more.

For high school and above.

What in the World do These Quilts Have in Common?

Curator of International Collections Marin Hanson presents five videos comparing quilts from the International Quilt Museum's growing international collection. Video length ranges from 2-4 minutes and the quilts in each video come from India, Russia, China, France, Central Asia, Japan and the United States.

Grades 6-12, Social Studies, Visual Arts 

This unit can be used to support Nebraska Standards FA 8.2.3, FA 8.2.4, SS 7.3.4, SS 6.4.4, SS 7.4.4 and SS 8.4.4

Click here to access these lessons.

Three Things About a World Quilt 

Curator of International Collections Marin Hanson presents seven videos examining design elements of pieces from the International Quilt Museum's growing international collection. Video length ranges from 8-24 minutes and topics explore historic and cultural influences on quilts from Central Asia, Pakistan, Japan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, China, Russia and the United States.

Grades 9-12, Social Studies, Visual Arts 

This unit can be used to support Nebraska Standard FA 12.2.3.a

Click here to access these lessons.

Every First Friday, a short presentation and activity aimed at student audiences will be available before the main First Friday program.

On the Theme of Water 

Consider how artists use the theme of water in their quilts with slow viewing of quilts from the International Quilt Museum Collection. How might your experiences with water affect your own art?
Find a coloring sheet for this exhibition here.

To view more quilts on the theme of water, we invite you to explore Water FEATURED: The John M. Walsh III Collection, on display at the IQM through April 15, 2022, and accessible as a virtual gallery at https://www.internationalquiltmuseum.org/exhibition/water-featured-john-m-walsh-iii-collection.

Watch the Video
 

Quilted Portraits 

Explore quilted portraits with education coordinator Lauren Holt, and make your own textile portrait art!

Activity Materials: Make Your Own Textile Portrait Art 

Watch the Video 

Wild Textiles 

Join us to celebrate animals in quilts around the world, and explore the symbolism different animals hold in different cultures.

Watch the Video 

Color in Quilted Illusions, with MJ Kinman

Join Education Coordinator Lauren Holt and textile artist MJ Kinman for an exploration of how color value and color saturation can be used to create 3D illusions and glow in quilts. Experiment with color yourself using these coloring sheets! 

Facets on Fire, the Gemstone Quilts of MJ Kinman is on display at the International Quilt Museum through August 6, 2022. Learn more about MJ Kinman's quilts on her website, https://mjkinman.com/

Other quilts featured in this exhibition are on display as part of An Evolving Vision: The James Collection 1997-2022 - From the Studio through October 12, 2022. 

Watch the Video 

Appliqué From Around the World 

Explore appliqué designs through textiles from around the world with quilts featured in the International Quilt Museum's 25th Anniversary exhibitions, and more! Interested in making your own appliqué art in paper or cloth? Download this tutorial,  and get started with templates based on quilts from the Robert and Ardis James Collection. This tutorial is aimed at beginning to intermediate sewers interested in creating fabric art for display, and uses as few materials as possible. If you can sew a running stitch, you can make your own appliqué art!

Watch the Video 

Activity Materials: Coloring Pages + Appliqué Tutorial 

For making these programs possible, we would like to thank the Mark and Diann Sorensen IQM Education and Outreach Fund, and give special recognition to the Cooper Foundation, the Mary Ann Beavers Education Support Fund and the Mary Ann Beavers Fund for Public Programming & Outreach for their dedication and stalwart support of the International Quilt Museum’s education programs.