Time: 10-15 minutes

Materials

• Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson; The Fabrics of Fairytale by Tanya Robyn Batt; The Name Quilt by Phillis Root; The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco; or other books featuring the art of quilting.
• 5 x 5 squares of fabric one for each child
• Fabric markers

Set up

• Set out fabric squares and markers.

Directions

• Read one of the stories about the tales found within a quilt.
• Invite children to illustrate a tale from their lives. (Choose a theme that will unify the squares, such as summer vacation, my best friend, or their childrens book story.)
• Ask them to draw a picture to tell the story they have chosen. Children should try to keep the picture in the center, as ends will be turned under to sew in panels.
• Find a talented volunteer to help you sew together the panels and use the story quilt for  read alouds.