Weaving Our Stories Together

Use this activity to create a Rainbow Nation quilt, celebrating the diversity, uniqueness and cultural background of each student in your classroom.

1. Begin by sharing a brief history of quilting as a storytelling art form, highlighting how different cultures around the world use quilts to pass down traditions and share their identities. Show examples of multicultural quilts, emphasizing how each piece contributes to a bigger, beautiful picture.
2. Make sure each student has a piece of paper (10x10 inches will work well). Collect markers, crayons and paint for designing, and tape or glue for attaching the pieces. Note: as an alternative, invite students to bring in an old t shirt to cut into squares for a fabric quilt. If that’s not possible, provide fabric squares for everyone. Use needles and thread, or fabric glue to attached your designed squares.
3. Invite students to design their square with a message celebrating diversity, uniqueness or their cultural background. They can use symbols, words, patterns or drawings that reflect who they are or what they celebrate about their identity. Encourage them to get creative and colorful!
4. Have students share the meaning behind their designs with the class so that they all learn about each other’s cultures and experiences, fostering empathy and understanding.
5. Work together as a class to arrange the squares into a quilt pattern. Then, begin stitching the pieces together. This can be done with needles and thread or with fabric glue if sewing isn’t an option. Make sure every piece fits together, symbolizing unity in diversity.
6. Once the quilt is complete, display it in the classroom or in a prominent school area. Hold a small “Quilt Unveiling” celebration where students can reflect on the experience and the beauty of their collective story.

Reflection Questions:

• What did you learn about your classmates that you didn’t know before?
• How did it feel to share your story and see it become part of a bigger picture?
• What does this quilt say about our classroom community?