Celebrating Asa

Before my last day, I wanted to do something special with my class. Hopefully, it would be something I/Asa could save as a special memento of this year and my students. I remembered a kindergarten teacher back in TN had neat instructions for how to make animals from handprints. I couldn't think of where to find the few pages of hers that I copied, so I browsed online. I found a book that sounded like it would have some possibilities, and then I found out our library carried it! I requested it to be transferred to our library and held for me right away. After looking through it and playing around with arrangements on the computer, I came up with a plan for a forest animal handprint quilt. The kids made porcupine/hedgehogs (it depends on whom you ask), big birds (robins and a blue jay), rabbits, owls, and everyone contributed a thumb print to a caterpillar (for 4 total caterpillars). The aunt of one of my students volunteered every Thursday, and she helped them make their quilt squares a couple weeks ago. I LOVE how they turned out, and I love how seriously the kids took it. The porcupine/hedgehog-gers wanted to make them as realistic as possible, adding white tips to the ends of their quills. They discussed different types of owls as they made owls (the aunt is a wildlife rehab specialist). It just worked out perfectly.

While the entire quilt isn't done (it needs a back and binding), I promised the kids I would sew their squares together before I left so they could see it. I took it in on Thursday, and they were SO proud of themselves... I am SO proud of them! I really love this sweet way to remember them and tell Asa about a classroom full of 20 children who talked to him everyday since they found out he was inside me. :)

Without further ado, here is a picture of the unfinished quilt.

click on the picture to view it larger :)