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.