Paper Weaving
Materials:
12”x18”
construction paper
(one per student)
Suggested Grade Level : 2, 3
Time Frame: Two 30-minute art classes
Overview: Students learn and recognize weaving in their environment and other cultures. They create a weaving with colorful strips of
paper. Students maintain a learning log to record new understandings, processes, and reflections of their experience.
Art Standard:
Historical Perspective; Creative Expression
1”x12” strips
construction paper
(10 per student)
Arts Benchmark:
HP4: Identify media used in works of art throughout history and recognize the importance of
available resources.
CE2: Explore and discuss techniques and technologies for visual expression and communication.
pencils
rulers
Student Understandings in Art:
Students will develop an understanding that
throughout history societies have utilized available
natural resources to create works of art. Additionally, artists use different designs depending on the
tools and materials available.
scissors
Reinforceable Grade Level
Expectations (GLEs):
English Language Arts: Write informally, including
messages, journals, notes, and poems. (ELA-2-E6)
Math: Explain patterns created with concrete
objects, numbers, shapes, and colors. (P-2-E)
Variations:
6
Students use colors to create specific patterns. The paper loom can be cut using wavy lines as well as straight. Strips of paper can
be decorated with crayons and/or markers before they are woven. Embellishments can be added to the final woven piece using
small paper pieces as shown in the sample work of art. For younger students, the loom can be smaller to weave only 3 or 4 strips.
Lesson
Teacher guides students to keep a learning log, a notebook that students keep in the classroom in order to
record ideas, questions, reactions, and new understandings. This process offers a reflection of understanding that can lead to further study and alternative learning paths. It combines writing and reading with content
learning.
Vocabulary:
weave, weaving, woven,
loom, weft, warp, packing,
fabric/cloth
1. Engage/Explore:
2. Create:
3. Assess:
Teacher facilitates discussion on weaving
using the following information and visual aids such
as photographs and/or actual samples of woven
fabrics.
Teacher gives each student one 12”x18” sheet of
construction paper. Students fold construction paper in half
horizontally and turn the fold to the bottom of the work surface.
This is the middle of the loom. With pencil and ruler, students
draw a line one inch (the width of the ruler) from the top edge
of paper to show where to stop cutting. Now, using the scissors,
students cut lines about the width of two fingers from the fold
to the guideline drawn. These lines are called warp threads, or
vertical lines on a weaving.
Teacher observations
Is the student comprehending the under and over process? Is
the student creating a tight weave by following the “packing”
process?
Q: What is weaving?
Weaving is an under-over and over-under process for
creating fabric, baskets, etc.
Q: Is weaving art?
Yes, weaving is a creative process and many artists
use weaving as an art form. They even hang them on
the wall like a painting.
Q: Are all weavings hung on the wall
as art?
No, weavings have an assortment of uses, but the
most common uses are clothing, bags, and baskets.
Q: What examples of weaving may you find in your
home?
Carpets, blankets, towels, curtains, flags, fabrics/
cloth, backpacks, etc.
Q: What materials do we use to make these woven
things?
The four main sources are animals, plants, minerals,
and synthetic materials.
Teacher gives each student about ten 1” strips of different colored construction paper and demonstrates weaving over
and under through the warp threads.
Students begin to weave in a like manner. The strips
that are woven into the warp are called the weft. Students take
a second strip and weave under and over on the next row.
Students push the strip up to fill in the gaps between the weft
strips. This is called packing. Students continue weaving the
strips until the entire loom space is woven. Students use glue
to neatly attach the weft threads to the loom. (Apply only small
dots of glue to the front and back of the weaving.)
Teacher asks student
What color pattern are you creating in your work of art? Define
weft and warp and show me both on the loom. How is the loom
important to this weaving process? Explain in your learning log
the process you used to make a weaving.
Over time
Students will recognize and appreciate weaving as an art form.
Students will appreciate weaving as part of our culture and
many others.
For more information on literacy strategies, see Comprehensive Curriculum Revision Information at
www.louisianaschools.net/lde/saa/1914.html