How to Set Up a Book Quilting Bee
Elementary teachers can guide students to deepen their connections to each other by creating a paper quilt based on their favorite books.
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Our favorite books tell a story about who we are; sharing these stories helps us connect with one another on a deeper level. During the fall, while my elementary students and I are still getting to know each other, I do an activity called the Classroom Patchwork Book Quilt.
This project gives my class the ability to connect with each other through sharing their favorite stories. At the end of the activity, we also have a physical representation of these favorites that helps to highlight both my students’ individuality and the community we’re creating.
In addition to helping my students build community, this activity gives me insight into my students’ reading preferences and skills, allowing me to plan targeted small- and whole-group literacy instruction.
INTRODUCING THE PATCHWORK QUILT
To get students excited about creating our classroom patchwork quilt, I start by showing them photographs of interesting quilts and explaining that we can learn a lot about someone from a quilt that was made for them. As we look at different examples of quilts, I ask students what they notice. Many students point out the unique differences, the fine attention to detail, or the hard work involved. They also notice how each of the squares in the quilt contributes to the larger picture.
I then move into a conversation around how our classroom is a community made up of individuals in which each of us is different but brings so much to this class.
Finally, I move into the actual activity that our class will work on: our classroom patchwork book quilt. I ask students about their favorite book and their favorite place to read. Students start sharing their favorite books and begin to recognize similarities and differences in the stories they most enjoy. This immediately gets conversations going that help students build connections.
Students also share that they like to read while curled up in a blanket because it makes them feel cozy, warm, and safe. I tie this to our community and say that we want our classroom to reflect those same feelings.
PREPARING THE QUILT SQUARES
To create our quilt, I give each student a sheet of paper that serves as a patchwork quilt square. Each square has space at the top for a photo and includes three reflection questions:
- Why do you love this book?
- What makes this book important to you?
- What is the message of this book, or what does it teach you?
Students answer the prompts for their chosen favorite book and leave the top empty so we can add a photo later. I ask each student to bring a copy of their chosen book into class and leave it on their desk as they work on their square so others can see it and we can share out the favorites later on.
After completing the reflection questions on the patchwork quilt square, we move to sharing out the chosen books and taking photos to add to the top of each square. Over the course of a week or two, we read a portion of each student’s favorite book together. Depending on the grade level, I will read the book or a portion of it aloud, or the student can choose to read to the class. To make this time extra-special, I aim to create a cozy environment. I turn off the main overhead lights, turn on soft fairy lights or lamps, and let students pick flexible seating around the room to reflect their favorite atmosphere to read in and inspire a love of reading.
After we finish reading the book, the student shares out why the book is a favorite and why it is important to them. Then, I take a photo of the student holding their book, which I print out so the student can paste it to their patchwork quilt square. To keep the timing manageable, I feature two to three books a day: one during the morning meeting and one or two at the end of the day.
Once every child’s book has been shared, we host a classroom celebration to assemble our quilt. I find it is beneficial to have students assemble the quilt together, as it builds collaboration skills and reinforces a sense of ownership over the quilt and our classroom community.
We display the finished quilt in the classroom or out in the hallway so everyone can see how our individual differences come together to make one beautiful classroom community. I often try to have this on display during our first report card conferences for students’ families to enjoy.
REPEATING THE PROCESS TO END THE YEAR
To bring the experience full circle, we repeat the activity at the end of the school year. Students select their favorite book that they read during the school year, create new quilt squares, and reread their chosen stories. Students love this second round, and it naturally leads to meaningful conversations about how much they have grown—not only physically, but in their reading choices and critical thinking abilities.
Looking at the two quilts side by side gives students a tangible way to reflect on their year of learning. Students notice shifts in the genres, topics, and complexity of the books they gravitate toward, compared with the start of the year.
The classroom patchwork book quilt is a great way to build community early in the school year and to celebrate growth at the end of the year.