The students we just observed are now working with the rectangular-shaped halves to make quilt designs. They cut four squares in half and arranged the pieces to make patterns. As a class, they discussed patterns and worked together to complete one quilt square. Students are now working in small groups to design quilt squares. Below are some of their quilt patterns.

Teacher: We have here all of our quilt squares. They are beautiful. Let's think about how you put them together. Who can explain what you did?
Steven: Well, we started with four little squares, and then we folded them in half and cut them apart, and then we had to glue the pieces together.

Teacher: Does anyone have anything to add?
Shandra: We couldn't put the pieces on top of each other -- we had to keep them apart when we were gluing them onto the big paper. That was hard.
Jimmy: When we got finished you couldn't see the little squares any more, but we had a big square.
Alex: We got lots of patterns.

Teacher: Let's talk about the patterns you see. Can you describe the pattern for Group 1's quilt square?
Peter: (points as he describes) Well, there's straight straight side side, and then underneath it's side side straight straight.

Teacher: What about the pattern for Group 2?
Alex: This one is orange red orange red.

Teacher: That's a good color pattern. Does anyone see another pattern?
Jimmy: It's long long long long.

Teacher: Explain what you mean by "long."
Jimmy: (pointing at the rectangles) It's the long way, not the short way.

Teacher: Is there another quilt square with the same pattern?
Jack: (pointing to Group 6) It looks like our pattern, except it's a different color.

The conversation around patterns continues. As the culminating activity, students put their pieces together to make their own class "paper quilt."

  Reflect on the Designing a Paper Quilt problem