Amish Quilters

Make dioramas depicting the endurance of an old world culture in modern times.

• 1.

  After researching information about the Amish way of life, discuss how quilting is a necessity as well as a way for women to socialize within the Amish community. How is the Amish way of life similar to, and different from, your own life?

• 2.

  Use various colors of Crayola® Construction Paper™ Crayons and Crayola Washable Markers on construction paper to create a diorama background inside a recycled box. Attach the background with Crayola School Glue.

• 3.

  On white paper, draw and color various figures of women and girls who are taking part in a quilting bee. Cut them out with Crayola Scissors. Glue the figures inside the box.

• 4.

  Create an Amish quilt design with crayons. Place it on a quilting frame or in a quilter's lap in your diorama.

Benefits

• Students research details about the Amish way of life, such as farming and quilt making.
• Students compare and contrast their own way of living to that of the Amish lifestyle.
• Students construct a diorama showing Amish women making quilts.

Adaptations

• Design an Amish quilt pattern, color it on white paper using Crayola Fabric Crayons. Iron the pattern on fabric. Sew together to create a class quilt.
• Research Amish quilt patterns to find the meaning of each design.
• Younger children and students with special needs cut and use geometric shapes such as circles, triangles, squares, and rectangles to copy, or form an original, quilt pattern.