Five Great Weaving Projects

I have found five weaving projects on other blogs that I have put on my 2012 to do list for my kindergartners.

1.  Branch Weaving

From A Sense of Wonder

This is such rocking idea!  

2. Mesh Weaving

From Let the Children Play

I am in love with this piece.  This so happening in January!

3.  Paper Plate Weaving

From Fine Little Day

This is a must see blog!  So cool.  Love this project!  

There is an instruction link on at this link.

4. Hula Hoop Weaving

From Family Fun

I love, love, love Family Fun.  I subscribe to the magazine and can count on tons of great ideas just like this one.  So making this with my kinders.  Maybe they can bring old t-shirts. . . .  recycle idea!

Circular Cardboard Weaving

From How We Montessori

I love this blog.  Her photos are heavenly.  Kylie has provided this adaptation to the circular loom which can be kinda daunting for young ones.  This is brilliant!  Thank you Kylie!

A FEW BENEFITS OF WEAVING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN:

• builds fine motor skill (pincer grasp)
• aids visual tracking
• building eye/hand coordination
• strengthens the muscles used in pincer grip
• physical experience of spatial concepts of up, over, and under
• helps in using both the dominant and non-dominant hands at the same time
• weaving involves crossing the midline 
• the list goes on and on!

COMMON CORE STANDARDS ADDRESSED IN WEAVING

• Mathematics - Kindergarten - Geometry:
• K.G. 1.  Describe the relative position using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind and next to.
• K.G. 5  Model shapes in the world by building shapes from components (e.g. sticks and clay balls).

Try a weaving project in your classroom this year and see the fairy dust fly!!

Happy Weaving!

Weaving Like Elves

As a part of my Little Elves and the Shoemaker unit, I always introduce several hand working projects.  One of my favorite things to do is weaving.  It is simple and the children love the process.  I found this grapevine "ribbon" at Michael's for $5 and their holiday ribbon was 50% off.  Perfect!

Weaving is a wonderful way to build the pincer grasp for writing and develop fine motor control.    

 HOW TO DO IT:
Simple - give the children ribbons to weave.  I let the children loose to weave how ever they wish!

The end product is an explosion of joy! 

Weaving Curriculum in Switzerland Kindergarten

The classroom I visited in Switzerland was a multi-age classroom.  There was a completion project before going on to first grade - a circular weaving made into a turtle.  This circular weaving was the shell of a felt turtle.

I noticed that the teacher provided several opportunities for weaving and circular weaving.  I loved this huge weaving in progress behind the block area:

 

There was this great idea for a large weaving space on a wall made with chicken wire.  I have made this for my classes before and they loved it!

 

Detail of chicken wire loom.

These are the circular looms in progress in the kindergarten for their turtles.

This is a graduating kindergartener sewing his circular weaving to the felt turtle form.  It was then stuffed.