08 April - Paper Weaving - 2nd grade

Objective:

to introduce concept, vocabulary, and technique of basic weaving.

Materials: -Large black construction paper -color or patterned construction paper strips. Could also use recycled paper strips - scissors -white crayons,chalk or pastels -glue in tubs -glue brushes -rulers -Magnifying glass -fabric -woven basket

Procedures:

-Discuss what weaving is(see definition below) and have students brainstorm list of items that are woven.

Weaving — The process of forming cloth or fabric on a loom by interlacing yarn or thread (or, as in this case, paper).

Loom — A frame for weaving yarn or thread into cloth or fabric. •Warp — Threads running lengthwise on the loom. The warp is placed on the loom prior to beginning the weaving process.

Weft — Threads that are weaved across the warp threads to form the web.

Web — The cloth or fabric produced by weaving.

-Pass around fabric samples and magnifying glasses. Ask students to describe what they see. -Pass around basket and ask them to describe what they observe. -explain that they will be weaving with paper, and that the big black construction paper will be their loom and their warp

-Demonstrate how to make the warp cuts:

1. fold paper in half

2. use crayon/pastel and ruler to make a vertical line around an inch from unfolded edge of paper

3. use ruler to make approx. five horizontal lines from the fold to the white vertical line.

4. starting at the fold, cut along these horizontal lines, making sure to stop at the vertical line.

5. Unfold your paper, and you have your warped “loom.”

6. Demonstrate how to weave paper strips over and under, and let students know that if you started the first row with an “under”, the 2nd row starts with an “over.”

7. Have students proceed to weave until their paper is complete.

8. Students may glue down ends of weft strips.

9. wrap up and clean up

* It's important to gauge the readiness level of your particular class. If you feel they are not ready for using a ruler, or you don't have sufficient help, you can easily pre-mark the black paper yourself. If on the other hand, you feel your class is ready for a challenge, you could have them draw and cut wavy horizontal lines instead of straight.