Lessons & Resources for Educators
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Maine Fiber Today Background
Activity: Discovering Maine’s Fiber Producers, Processors, and Artists
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Brief Description: Students will research the revival of Maine’s Fiber industry with the establishment of small farms and mills. Using a map of Maine students will use computers to visit specific web-sites to learn about modern Maine fiber production.
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Mills and Money Background
Activity: Getting to Know a Maine Mill Girl
Rubrics for Assessment
Lowell Mill Girls
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Brief Description: Mills gradually took over the spinning and weaving jobs done at home. Because of the number of rivers in Maine, water power was plentiful so many mills and mill towns were established. Mills carded, spun yarn and wove fabric. Maine was even involved in the production of silk thread in the mid to late 19th century. Often very young people worked in the mills and the jobs were dangerous. Students will discover what working … view full description & alignments
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Stitches and Stories Background
Activity: Traditional Rug Hooking
Rubrics for Assessment
Rug Hooking
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Brief Description: Students will learn how early Maine families used worn out or outgrown clothing to make quilts, rugs and other useful items. Both boys and girls learned to sew. Students will research early samplers and rugs and make a basic rug using early techniques.
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A Colorful Life Background
Activity: Dying Yarn
Rubrics for Assessment
Maine Fiber Teaching Kit Free to Maine Teachers
Ideas for Alignment
Brief Description: Students will learn that Native Americans and colonists used natural substances to dye fibers, adding color to clothing, blankets and baskets. Mordants were used to “set” the color. Dyed materials were used to create many colonial weaving patterns. Students will be using natural substances to dye fiber/fabric samples of their own.
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European Trappers and Traders Background
Activity: Finger Crochet a Trapper’s Belt
Learn How to Finger Crochet with Kids
Rubrics for Assessment
Ideas for Alignment
Brief Description: Students will learn about early trappers and traders and their role in the development of North America. These Europeans used the available resources to survive and flourish. Students will be involved in research to produce a report or art project, as well as the finger crochet project.
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Weaving a Life in a New Land Background
Activity: Weaving Cloth
Floor Loom
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Weaving on a Cardboard Loom
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Brief Description: Students will learn that farms in the New World raised sheep and grew flax for fiber to weave. Students learn what a loom is and will use a small loom to learn basic weaving techniques.
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Did the Vikings Visit Maine? Background
Activity: Using a Drop Spindle
Spinning Yarn with a Drop Spindle
How to Prepare Fiber with Hand Carders
Using a Niddy Noddy
Rubrics for Assessment
Maine Fiber Teaching Kit Free to Maine Teacher
Ideas for Alignment
Brief Description: It is likely that the Vikings were responsible for bringing woven cloth to the New World. Students will use a drop spindle and Niddy Noddy to spin and measure wool. Teachers may borrow a free kit with hand cards, fleece, and other items needed to teach this lesson.
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Maine’s Fiber Beginnings Background
Activity: Braiding Grasses
Braiding Instructions
Rubrics for Assessment
Ideas for Alignment
Brief Description: Native Americans in Maine used many types of fibers throughout their history. In this lesson students will discuss the effect of climate and geography on their fiber choices and experience gathering and using tall grasses to braid into useful objects.
