Teach ME Food & Farms

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Fiber Maine-ia 5 – A Colorful Life

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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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Fiber Maine-ia 3 – European Trappers and Traders

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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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Fiber Maine-ia 4 – Weaving a Life in a New Land

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Weaving a Life in a New Land Background
Activity: Weaving Cloth
Floor Loom
Rubrics for Assessment
Weaving on a Cardboard Loom
Ideas for Alignment

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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Fiber Maine-ia 2 – Did the Vikings Visit Maine?

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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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Fiber Maine-ia 1 – Maine’s Fiber Beginnings

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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.

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