Fabric Weaving

Every year, I am supposed to teach the 2nd graders to weave with fabric strips.  2 things have made this easier- 1 is a rotary cutter, 2 is a donation of 9x12 cardboard.  Some years, I teach the kids to add beads to the end, or use pipe cleaners to wrap the ends.  Last year, I taught the kids to tie it off with dowel rods, as little wall hangings.  This year, the crop of kiddos is not much for knot tying, so I had them tape the ends to the back, and then we glued them to construction paper, making frames with gel crayons.  The kiddos love their gel crayons, and it also gave me a chance to gauge their pattern making skills.    It took a fair amount of glue on the edges, and a few students carefully sitting on their weaving to make the glue stick well.  But, in the end, totally worth it!

Could not be prouder!

Fabric weaving is nothing new, although, last year, I learned to have the kids push the strips really tight, so it looks more like a rug.  Makes a world of difference. This year, I used the chipboard looms that are pre-notched.  Mrs. Cheapy here, did not want to only get one use out of them, so I taught the kids to weave in two dowel rods, and tie the ends around them.  I figured they'd try, and I'd have a bunch to do for homework.  They really amazed me, almost all of my 2nd graders tied off their own loom!  Makes me remember to challenge my students, and see how far they will reach.  Some years, I have the students make a pattern with the fabric, but this year, we looked at landscapes, and I suggested that they might try to pick sky/ground colors.  Some remembered, some didn't, and other did, but when we squished it up, the design did not translate the same.  But, it was a fun idea.