Collaborative Lesson “Everyday Use”

Ms. Sullivan  Ms. Nicholson

Objective:   Students will understand the visual arts in relation to the history, culture and experiences of African-Americans in the United States.  They will research the art of quilting and connect its traditions to the short story “Everyday Use,” and to slavery.

The links below may be accessed without typing by going to www.cttech.org/VINAL/index.htm Click on Library Media Center in the left hand column. Scroll to PROJECTS. Click on Everyday Use – Ms. Nicholson/Ms. Sullivan.

I. History

Go to  Underground Railroad at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/index.html

Follow the trail of a slave using the Underground Railroad to reach freedom in Canada. 

Write your reaction to this site in a 4 sentence paragraph.

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Would you have had the courage to help a runaway slave escape to Canada?  Why or Why not?  Explain.

II. Go to African-American Quilting Traditions at http://xroads.virginia.edu/~UG97/quilt/atrads.html

Observe different types of African American quilts.  Answer the questions.

1. When did women take over quilt making?

2. Why were quilts brightly colored in Africa?

3. What did a break in quilt patterns symbolize?

4. How did a quilt become a family album?

5. What does the diamond and circle shape symbolize in the African American textile?

III. Go to Quilts and the Underground Railroad http://www.carolinacountry.com/StoryPages/ourstories/quilt/quilt.html

Read this section and explain what each symbol represents.

IV.  Go to quilt 1 and quilt 2.  Use the graphic organizer to interpret the symbols in the quilts.

http://www.nsa.gov/gallery/photo/photo00017.jpg

http://www.quiltersline.com/Ug_road.html

V.  Go to How to make quilt blocks. http://educ.queensu.ca/~fmc/may2004/Underground.html Read the material and decide what patterns and symbols your group will use as part of its quilt design.