Quilts add to lessons on history, family heritage

If there's one thing that can bring history, family heritage, and patterns together, it is a quilt.

Fourth-grade students in Mr. Dave Welch's class at Hinkle Creek Elementary School shared a little of their families' heritage as they brought quilts to school that had been made by grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and other family members.

A display of quilts, set up around the media center, was used to bring together studies of pioneers, the Civil War, and geometry with family heritage and to incorporate those with the class's year-long theme of patterns.

"We have discussed patterns all year, and quilts are a perfect thing to use. We can recognize and appreciate the colors and patterns, and also the people who made them," Mr. Welch said.

Students and teachers brought in about 40 quilts. The oldest quilts were more than 100 years old; the newest ones were made in the last few years.

Brittany brought one made her great-great-grandmother in 1939.

"She was about 40 when she made it. She used parts of the dresses she had when she was younger," Brittany said.

Allie quilt was one her grandmother started at age 10 but never finished.

"She and her sister were learning how to make a quilt. They were making one out of old pieces of clothing, but their grandmother died and they didn't learn how to make the back so they couldn't finish it," Allie said.

Alexandra brought three quilts to school, all made by her great-great-grandmother. One was a blanket made for Alexandra when he was a baby.

Stephanie's contribution included a quilt made by her great-great-grandmother, two made by her great-grandmother, and one by her great-grandmother's sister.

"My granny said she was very proud that I was bringing these to school," Stephanie said.

David, Katie, Jenna, Betsy, Jeff, Garrett, and Craig added to the collection.

Mr. Welch brought in several quilts of his own, most of them made by his mother. One was made by the Hinkle Creek staff and counselor Donna Brooks several years ago while he was waiting for a kidney transplant.

"I am especially proud of that one," he said.