Sam Johnson and the Blue Ribbon Quilt

I use this book at the beginning of every year. It illustrates the need to work together, which is a community building theme of my class.

I teach intermediate special education to 4th, 5th and 6th graders who had no background in algebra and basic number sense. Reading the story of Sam Johnson and the Blue Ribbon Quilt provided a means to evaluate the student's ability to identify patterns in the book, in the classroom and in their clothing. This reinforced lessons that had been taught and provided a literature connection.

Tihs book is about a man name Sam Johnson who wanted to make quilts.So Sam took the blue quilt from the pigs pin to patch the hole.The same day his wife came home and Sam showed her the quilt and said "I'm going to join your quilting club". Whe Sam walked into the room for the meeting everyone stared. So the next morning Sam put up poster for the men who wanted to make quilts. Sam hade the meeting in his barn and the men agreed to everything Sam hade said. The next day the men started on their quilt.

I read this book to my sixth grade Home Economics sewing classes. They love it and I enjoy introducing some literacy into my classroom. We discuss how working to gether can solve problems. It is a great book to show boys that sewing is not just for girls!

This humorous picture book reminds children that men not only did the chores on the farm, but actually did some sewing and quilting - and that joining forces with their wives helps solve a near-disaster when the quilts fall into the mud. The drawings are clear and colorful, and the resulting creation will inspire everyone.