Building Background
Real World Geometry
The purpose of this activity is to examine how math is used in the creation of everyday objects and the role it might have played in helping slaves escape to freedom.
1. Visit the National Security website with your students. Discuss how quilts may have been used to help slaves escape to freedom. https://www.nsa.gov/publications/publi00011.cfm
2. View the quilt patterns on the Queen's University website. https://educ.queensu.ca/~fmc/may2004/Underground.html Explore the various messages encoded in the Underground Railroad quilt code patterns shown on the site.
3. Ask the students to identify the various geometric elements that were used in the quilt patterns, i.e., acute angle, parallel, vertex, equilateral triangle, etc.
Steps for Learning
Design a Quilt
In this activity, students will use geometric shapes to design a quilt that incorporates an escape route from their classroom to the front door of the school.
1. Give each student at least twelve 6-inch squares of multiple colored construction paper or different colored/designed fabric, glue, and a large piece of plain paper.
2. Tell students that they are to use the paper or fabrics to design a patchwork quilt top. Explain that the quilt top will contain a map that will show how to "escape" from the classroom to the front door of the school.
3. Ask students to cut the construction paper squares into shapes such as squares, triangles and rectangles. Explain to students that they will slide, flip and turn these pieces to create the pattern of the escape route.
4. Provide time for students to share their quilt tops with the class and explain how they manipulated the geometric shapes to create the pattern of the escape route.