Download This Lesson:
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.
Level: Grades 3-5
Subjects: English Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Visual & Performing Arts
Skills: Observing, recording, following directions, cooperation, writing, describing, listening reading, communicating
Fiber Maine-ia: Exploring Maine’s Fiber History is an eight lesson program exploring the use and evolution of fiber from early man to the present, with a focus on Maine. The lessons could easily be used, without alignment activities, as an after school enrichment program or in learning centers during a Maine History Day.
The alignment ideas provide suggestions for including the lessons in a study of Maine history, with opportunities for alignment to the Maine Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction and the Common Core Standards. Teachers may use the ideas as written, or as a springboard to develop their own alignment activities. The alignment for Fiber Maine-ia has been done for the 3-5 grade-span., although grade 6-8 teachers may find ways to increase the level of cognitive demand in some of the activities to meet the standards at that level.
Helpful Links:
How to Make a Drop Spindle
How to Make a PVC Niddy Noddy
Resources
Correlations to State of Maine Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction
ELA = English Language Arts, HE/PE = Health Education and Physical Education, MA = Mathematics, SCI = Science, SS = Social Studies, VPA = Visual and Performing Arts
** Alignment possible only if lesson extension is done
Criteria for Fiber Main-ia Alignment
|
Grade |
Maine Learning Results |
Common Core Standards for English and Mathematics |
|
3-5 |
ELA B1e,g Writing – Interconnected Elements B2a Writing – Narrative B5a Writing – Practical Application SCI D3c The Physical Setting – Matter & Energy SS E1a Historical Knowledge, Concepts, Themes, and Patterns .
|
ELA Speaking & Listening: Grade 3: 3 Writing: 3, 4 |