Lesson Plan – More Than Warmth

I. Descriptive course data: 

  • K-12 grade, Interdisciplinary Theme Unit- Raising Global Awareness
  • Title: “More Than Warmth”

II. Goal/Objectives:

  • General: Emphasize the student as a world citizen by engaging them in stories of people and cultures from around the world.
  • Specific: To connect art to other curricular areas.

III. Introduction/Instruction:

  • Motivator/Hook:

Engage the students in current events in the media to create an awareness of the world’s news.

Discuss what is happening in Afghanistan, Iraq, India, Africa and other countries and the hardships third world people face in their daily life.

Allow the students a chance to discuss what they think.

  • Content:

Through map identification, letter writing, art, and discussion, the students will relate to a culture different than their own. 

  • Key points:

By focusing the student’s interest in the greater world the student will realize their place as a world citizens, will be able to participate in world affairs, and learn higher order thinking using reflective inquiry.

IV. Activities: 

  • Listed: Interdisciplinary activities with additional ideas enclosed.

V. Practice:

  • Guided and Independent: Through lecture, group work, seminar, and centers, the students will experience various learning methods.
  • Homework: Independent research and completion of map (optional), completion of letter to a child, and a picture idea for their quilt square.

VI. Evaluation:

  • Teacher observation of student participation; questions asked by students, teacher observation of art centers, and written work on letters.
  • Quilt square drawing on muslin
  • Letter to child in another land

VII. Resources/ Materials:

  • World maps to color. 
  • Maps and globe in the classroom
  • Paper and crayons for “cartoon”
  • Cotton muslin (white or natural) 12 ½ inches or 10 ½ inches square
  • Permanent fabric markers in various colors
  • Colored fabric for borders

VIII. Revision: _____________________

Quilt Checklist

  • Letters and pictures should be friendly and heartfelt wishes of comfort to warm a child’s heart.  They are a way to send greetings from one child to another.

  • Pictures should express something the student cares for, or loves. Some examples are: flowers, hearts, your puppy, your family, and rainbows. What pictures would make you happy to sleep under at night and dream nice dreams?

  • Letters and pictures should be:

    • Nondenominational: letters and pictures should make no references to religion

    • Nonpolitical: letters and pictures should make no reference to political views (no flags)

    • Nonviolent: letters and pictures should not have themes that may scare a child (no guns, helicopters, airplanes, trucks, tanks, rain) Please no words on quilt squares. The letters can be written separately.

Supporting Activities

Discussion of where quilts will go

  • Decide to make a quilt to warm the children/orphans
  • Discuss what should be on a friendship quilt

Discuss what would make a child happy to sleep under

  • No violent images (nothing to scare children – no airplanes, helicopters, tanks, trucks, etc.)
  • Non-denominational (do not try to change their religion)
  • Nonpolitical (nothing to scare children – no political images or flags, etc.)

Draw paper picture (teacher proofs)

Draw picture on fabric

Write letters to children

Map work – finding the United States, Afghanistan, China, India, Iraq, Israel, Romania, South Africa, Swaziland, Tibet, Zambia or other countries

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