“The Keeping Quilt” by Patrica Polacco and Paper Quilt Activity

Weekly Trip to the Library

In The Keeping Quilt Anna is a young girl and all she has from Russia is her dress and shawl which is called her Baboushka. When Anna’s dress gets too small, Anna’s mother invites all the ladies from the neighbourhood to help make a quilt.

The story follows this quilt down generations of the family. It’s used for a variety of things including a huppa at weddings, a blanket to welcome new babies, a tablecloth for birthday celebrations, the making of superhero capes, and so on. It’s the story of a family and how it grows and changes with each generation but how the quilt ties them all together.

You can purchase your own copy of The Keeping Quilt by clicking the title in this post.

After reading The Keeping Quilt, let the kids make their own paper quilt. Children can create all kinds of designs using triangles with this free printable four-square quilt template. This geometry activity for kids provides all kinds of practice in spatial awareness and is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, and first grade.

You Will Need:

Construction paper in two contrasting colors
Scissors or a paper cutter
Glue stick
White cardstock (optional)
Free four-square quilt template

What to Do:

1. Cut out triangles from construction paper. Each child will need 8 triangles (4 of each color). First cut out 3.5 inch x 3.5 inch squares. Then cut the squares in half diagonally.

2. Set out the materials for the activity: 8 triangles, a glue stick, and the four-square quilt template. You can print it out on white cardstock to make it more sturdy, but plain copy paper will work too.

3. Practice arranging the triangles inside the squares. Do not let the triangles overlap or go outside of the squares.

4. Try out making different designs using the triangles. Once you find a design you like, use your glue stick to glue the triangles onto the paper.