Weaving - Bookmarks

 Description: For this project, we created our own bookmark using weaving techniques. This lesson was tied to different cultures and how weaving is a part of different cultures. 

First, we needed to create our own loom to weave through. We did this using four straws that we taped together, leaving small gaps in between each of them. 

The next step was to tie our long string onto the loom and begin to weave. This was a process that required us to keep the yearn very tight. We also had to stay consistent with our weaving pattern (over, under, etc.). Once we had reached the end of the straw loom, we strung our four individual strings into the straw holes until there was string out both ends of the straws. 

Next, we tied those ends together to seal the ends from unraveling. We had to then remove the weaving from the loom. To do this, we had to push all of the tightly woven string off one end of the straws. To finish, we had the option to incorporate different beads into our bookmarks, but I chose not to do so. 

Overall, I thought this was a cool way to introduce weaving to the class. It was a very detailed process, so I felt a little bit overwhelmed with the many steps that were to be followed. My bookmark was weaved very tight, and so I struggled to get it off of the loom. I also struggled to tie the ends together because the strings would just continue to slide through the end of the straw. 

Extension: Another weaving activity that you could do would be to incorporate these skills into a math lesson about patterns. You could have students practice the weaving motion by weaving paper together. You could talk about the patter found within the weaving process - over, under, over, under, etc. You could also work on different color patterns through the color of paper that the students are given. A simple way to use weaving within a core content standard!