Instead of working with wool roving like I had initially intended this week (to go with our Wool Unit) we ended up starting a weaving project. We have not finished them yet but I wanted to share some photos. I will be leaving them out for the next week or two so they can sit down and work at it when they like.
First I cut out approximately a 4″x8″ rectangle of card board (the flaps of an Amazon box actually). I then cut seven 1/4″ deep notches along both the top and bottom… about 1/4″ apart. I taped a piece of yarn to the back and then wrap the yarn from bottom to top through the notches. I cut the yarn and taped down the end to the back as well.
Then I let the kids pull out a bunch of yarn from my stash and cut about 8″ long pieces. I think this is their favorite part… getting to take scissors to my yarn (I did lock away the really good stuff). They love the fuzzy fun furs and the nubby yarns that I have left over from making our farm mat.
Bug and Fairy had no problem figuring out the weaving process. I thought it was going to take a lot more demonstration then it did. One quick example and they were at it.
I will post an update when we finish them.
I am sharing some photos of a loom demonstration we saw with Grandma and Grandpa a few weeks ago. It was given at a Historic Village nearby. The kids were enthralled with all of the artisan crafts (pottery, glass blowing, weaving, etc). We got to see some very old and very large looms, as well as quite a few spinning wheels. Although this was a field trip we took several weeks ago the kids were able to make the connection this week when we started reading and talking about “Pelle’s New Suit.”
Bug asked lots of questions. He actually explained the spinning process to the guide, based on the farm visit we had in the Spring to watch sheep sheering (there were many women spinning there and selling the most beautiful yarn). He was very interested in some of the completed projects they had on display and figuring out which loom they were made on.
They really are soo cool. I can’t help but think that I need to make room for a loom… eventually. 😉
Thanks to Grandma for the great photos to share!
Week Seven (Oct 13-20)
Pelle’s New Suit
How We Use Wool
G is for Gorse
We will be coloring the Gorse page from our Flower Fairies Alphabet Coloring Book and reading the accompanying story in the Flower Fairies Alphabet Book.
I’m not totally sure what our project will end up being. We may use the wool roving on felt to make pictures. We may try to make Felted Wool Soap Bars or maybe some felted critters for the nature table. I’ll have to see what the kids are interested in trying.
Try to find a knitting shop, local farm, historic village, etc that has a spinning wheel, loom or in some way processes wool. If nothing else, visit your local yarn shop (not one of the box stores – they don’t have as many natural fibers) to compare the types of yarn available. How do the different fibers feel? What other animals do we get yarn from?
I don’t have something specific in mind so we will probably just go ahead with making some yummy, fresh bread.
Harvest
Now all the farmers from far and wide
Have gathered their bounty of countryside:
Corn and barley from field and wold,
Honey from beehive and wool from the fold,
Fruit from the orchard all ripe, red and gold,
Log for the fire to keep out the cold.
by Dorothy Hancock
Bug has started on a new project with a theme of “Inside the Body.” I am trying to let him lead the process on this one… so we will be working on this as well, but I have no predetermined plans for it. Last week he checked out a lot of books and a dvd from the library, put together a skeleton and colored a diagram of the heart chambers.
Kindergarten/Preschool Term One Overview: Harvest Time