Quilt Making: Art project for Students with Multiple Complex Needs

My students with multiple complex needs are not able to sew their own quilt or even to participate in our wire quilt like some of my other art students. But that doesn't mean I couldn't differentiate the lesson to allow them to understand how contributing a square to a larger group project helps create art and community. They could understand pattern through some exercises that involved clapping and word patterns. They made choices of colors, shapes, and placement for their square, and they glued their shapes down. Origami paper was perfect for this assignment because each shape had a front color and a back color to try out in the arrangement. I pre-cut all the shapes and they used glue sticks to attach them. Many of these students are non-verbal so they would point to the color when I'd give them a choice or two, or I would give them two shape choices up front and then individually a second time for each of those choices (Do you want a rectangle? Yes or no? Do you want a triangle? Yes or no?) and then wait for a response such as an nod or an attempt to say "yes."

Using squares of pre-cut fabric that were actually made for quilting is another great way to introduce students to the idea of piecing a quilt together. Students made decisions based on similar colors and themes and were encouraged to space them in a way that created balance. The range of abilities varied, but what mattered most to me is for students to be able to understand a little bit of what goes into quilting in the real world. For this one they used liquid glue on the back before flipping, placing and patting each square. Quilts can be made using an collaborate or individual process, but I hope the next time they climb under a quilt they get a cozy feeling, remembering these projects and knowing their art teacher loves them.