FIRST GRADE . . . We are weavers!

Weaving by Joy

First Graders learned how to weave with yarn on a handmade loom. This is a project that celebrates the art and culture of the Native Americans and teaches us a wonderful technique using patterns. Our finished woven designs hang from twigs that students found outside.

Our handmade looms were created out of the cardboard base from water bottle trays and we recycle these looms every year. Six slits are cut into both ends of the cardboard and yarn is strung from top to bottom creating the warp (or vertical) strings of the loom.

Next students choose a color of yarn to weave with. We learned how to measure the yarn against a table edge by working in pairs with our friends. One student holds the end of the yarn against the end of the table and the other student unrolls the yarn to match the length of the table and cuts it off.

To weave with our colored yarns, we learned how to follow a pattern of "Over, Under, Over, Under, Over, Under." Not only is the process of weaving a pattern, but we can also create a pattern by alternating our colors of yarn.

Here are some examples of our completed woven designs. To see all of our work, follow this link to our home page of Artsonia!  http://www.artsonia.com/schools/school.asp?id=114839  

Weaving by Mia G.

Weaving by Vincent

Weaving by Claire

Weaving by Crystal