A Day in the Life: 1st & 2nd Grade Weaving!

I was so excited to write this post yesterday, but then time ran away from me because I was working on getting Save the Dates ordered. Also very exciting but the most exciting part will be when I get them in the mail and they are beautiful & gorgeous right before my eyes! Anyway, I'll be sharing two lessons today that I'm using for 1st & 2nd grade. The first graders will be creating an apple weaving connected to Family Traditions and the second graders will be creating a "wacky weaving" based on colors in their Communities.

1st Grade: Apple Weaving

2nd Grade: Wacky [Wavy] Weaving

Above are the final products, but below I'll have step-by-step instructions on how to create these two weavings. Hopefully the images will help as well! The very first thing you need to do is PREP your materials. These weavings, unfortunately require an astronomical amount a lot of prep. You have to cut the strips that students will be using to weave and you have to prep the outline of the apple for first grade as well as the lines they will cut on. Now its up to you to determine the amount your first graders can handle, but to save time for the students I went ahead and prepped the lines as well.

What you need:

1. 12x18in construction paper (this will be your "loom")
2. 12x1in strips of construction paper (to weave with)
3. scissors
4. glue
5. ruler
6. pencil

 Start by folding your 12x18in paper in half (hot-dog style) and trace the template on it. The center of the apple rests on the fold. Once you have used the template, go back and mark every 1 (one) inch in the center block. These are the lines students will cut in order to weave through. Your completed tracing should look like this (I used sharpie to photograph the lines better, but I suggest using pencil so the lines aren't visible in the final product):

Students will receive one of the three colors I created the apples with. I just used red, green and yellow but choose whatever colors you want! Students will then cut the outside line of the apple and the lines on the inside of the apple. You have to make sure you remind them HOLD ON THE FOLD (it rhymes so they usually remember it quickly). Stress that they stop on the line that's perpendicular to the cuts or else the weaving won't work. You can use the analogy that your scissors are a race car and the finish line is that perpendicular line but they have to stop right at the line.

Once students have completely finished cutting they can start to weave! I will be allowing students to get two strips at a time so they take their time and avoid ripping the paper while weaving. I'll be setting up strips of yellow, red, green and brown for fall. Just make sure that students select any color strips besides their main apple color. Then they will have a successful Apple Weaving!

For the second grade Wacky {Wavy} Weaving you follow the same basic steps. There isn't as much prep by far for the second grade weaving though.

What you need:

1. 12x18in color construction paper (your "loom)
2. 12x1in color strips (to weave with)
3. scissors
4. glue
5. pencil
6. ruler 

Students first select a color to make their "loom" with. I'm placing five different fall colors on the back counter and students can select which color they would like. Once students select their color, they fold the construction paper in half, "hamburger style".

Once students have folded their paper in half, they will draw a line across the top of the OPEN part of the paper (farthest from the fold) about two inches from the top. This line is where the "race car" has to stop when students are cutting to make sure the weaving works. Then students will draw FIVE wavy lines from the fold to the line they just drew. When leading students to draw the lines, I will start with line number 3 and work my way out because students seem to pile all the 5 lines on one side of the paper or the other. Students then cut the waves making sure to stop at that top line. Students can write their name above that line as a reminder to not cut there as well. 

Students unfold their paper after making all of the cuts and begin to weave. Again, I'll be allowing students to get two strips at a time to make sure they are woven properly. They can select whichever colors they want but try encourage students to use color from community in their weaving. For students that are finished early they can use the funky scissors to create vertical strips to add to their weaving.

 Have a discussion with your students before the weaving begins, to talk about family traditions in their lives (1st grade). Explain what a tradition is for them and make a list of traditions of their families. For 2nd grade talk about what a community is. How there are different communities other than housing communities such as a school community, second grade community, classroom community, etc. Focus on colors in different communities that each student could include in their weaving.

I'd love to hear if you attempt this project either at home or with students! If you have any questions, throw them my way! Good luck & Happy Weaving!