I plan to use these sewing machines and thread to expand my student's understanding of sewing, a traditional art form that is as good for fostering creativity as it is a truly useful life skill. As a fiber artist myself, I am passionate about teaching younger generations about the ways that sewing can be used as a storytelling medium. From quilting to embroidery to applique, sewing has a history within all cultures that can be applied to enriching, relevant assignments. Not only can sewing-based assignments be used to build skills, but they can also be culturally, and practically applied to all of my diverse students' interests and backgrounds.
My students love learning about processes that they can use creatively as well as apply to their everyday life. When my students feel that there is obvious value to what they are learning, they become 100% engaged and even more excited! With these machines, I would be able to effectively teach my students firstly how to sew and mend fabrics/clothing.
Using the machines to create decorative and structural stitches, I would teach my students to create layered, posterized self-portraits. These portraits would be combined into a quilt that could be added to in yearly increments—teaching community building through art, as well as developing the identity of my school. I would also use these machines to supplement a unit on activism by teaching my students about wish flags that express a hope they have for the future and their communities. This unit would be based on exploring Tibetan Prayer Flags and could also be displayed publicly as well as teach students about community. While these are only two examples, these sewing machines would have nearly infinite applications in my classroom and provide an exciting, enriching experience to my students.
About my class
I plan to use these sewing machines and thread to expand my student's understanding of sewing, a traditional art form that is as good for fostering creativity as it is a truly useful life skill. As a fiber artist myself, I am passionate about teaching younger generations about the ways that sewing can be used as a storytelling medium. From quilting to embroidery to applique, sewing has a history within all cultures that can be applied to enriching, relevant assignments. Not only can sewing-based assignments be used to build skills, but they can also be culturally, and practically applied to all of my diverse students' interests and backgrounds.
My students love learning about processes that they can use creatively as well as apply to their everyday life. When my students feel that there is obvious value to what they are learning, they become 100% engaged and even more excited! With these machines, I would be able to effectively teach my students firstly how to sew and mend fabrics/clothing.
Using the machines to create decorative and structural stitches, I would teach my students to create layered, posterized self-portraits. These portraits would be combined into a quilt that could be added to in yearly increments—teaching community building through art, as well as developing the identity of my school. I would also use these machines to supplement a unit on activism by teaching my students about wish flags that express a hope they have for the future and their communities. This unit would be based on exploring Tibetan Prayer Flags and could also be displayed publicly as well as teach students about community. While these are only two examples, these sewing machines would have nearly infinite applications in my classroom and provide an exciting, enriching experience to my students.
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