Pattern Hunter Teacher Guide Pattern Hunter
Teacher Guide • Lesson 1
Duration
40-45 Minutes
Skills
Pattern Recognition, Sorting
Focus
Visual Rhythms
The Hook: "Look at Your Shirt!"
"Everyone, look down at your clothes. Do you see a shape that shows up again and again? Maybe a stripe? Maybe a circle? Let's go on a pattern hunt!"
Teaching Steps
1
Define the Pattern
Explain that a pattern is a "design that repeats." Use the Pattern Hunter Slides to show simple AB patterns (Red-Blue-Red-Blue).
2
Classroom Safari
Walk around the room. Look at bookshelves, rug designs, and toy bins. Ask: "Is this a pattern? Why or why not?"
3
Pattern Sorting
Give students a bin of blocks or beads. Have them sort objects that *could* make a pattern by color or shape.
4
Creative Record
Distribute the "My Pattern Hunt" worksheet for students to draw one pattern they found in the room.
Discussion Prompts
"How do you know what comes next in this pattern?"
"Does a pattern ever stop, or does it keep going?"
"Where do you see patterns outside? On a zebra? On a house?"
Support
Provide physical pattern blocks for students to lay directly onto the worksheet for tactile matching.
Challenge
Encourage students to create an ABC pattern (Red-Blue-Yellow) or a pattern with different sizes.
Pattern Hunter Slides Pattern Hunter
Let's find the designs around us!
What is a Pattern?
A pattern is something that repeats over and over again.
"It's a visual rhythm!"
WHAT COMES NEXT?
Pattern Safari!
👕
On Clothes
📚
In Books
🦓
On Animals
Look around the room right now!
Is this a pattern? 👍 or 👎
Just the same thing...
YES! It repeats!
My Pattern Hunt Worksheet My Pattern Hunt
Name:
Date:
Culture Explorer
Look around our classroom! Can you find a pattern? Draw the colors and shapes you see below.
Create your own pattern in this snake:
Check: Recognizes repetition?
Weaving Stories Teacher Guide World Weaving
Teacher Guide • Lesson 2
Duration
45-50 Minutes
Skills
Fine Motor, Global Awareness
Focus
Cultural Textiles
The Hook: "The Thread Secret"
"Hold up your sleeve. Do you see tiny threads hugging each other? How do they stay together without glue? Today, we learn the secret of weaving!"
Teaching Steps
1
Global Fabric Tour
Use the World Weaving Slides. Show bright fabrics: Kente cloth (Ghana), Tartan (Scotland), and Huipil (Guatemala). Point out the different patterns.
2
Over and Under
Demonstrate with your fingers. "Over, under, over, under." Have students practice this motion in the air with their hands.
3
Paper Weaving Activity
Distribute the Paper Weaving Template and colored paper strips. Guide them through weaving the first strip together.
4
Texture Touch
If possible, provide real fabric scraps (burlap, silk, wool) for students to touch and compare.
Discussion Prompts
"Which fabric is your favorite color? Why do you like it?"
"If you were making a blanket for a cold day, which fabric would you use?"
"Why do you think different people in different places use different colors?"
Teacher Prep:
Pre-cut 1-inch colored paper strips
Pre-cut slits in weaving templates
Fabric scraps for sensory bin
Tape for securing strip ends
World Weaving Slides World Weaving
Colors and Cloth from Far Away!
Kente Cloth
Ghana 🇬🇭
This cloth is made of bright yellow and gold colors.
The patterns tell stories about kings and queens!
Andean Weaving
Peru 🇵🇪
Weavers use wool from llamas to make these!
The patterns look like mountains and animals.
How do we weave?
1. Under
2. Over
Paper Weaving Template My Weaving Loom
Name:
Global Textiles
TEACHER: Cut along the dashed lines below before giving to students. Students weave paper strips OVER and UNDER to make a colorful pattern!
Over... Under... Over... Under!
Clay Creations Teacher Guide Clay Creations
Teacher Guide • Lesson 3
Duration
50-60 Minutes
Skills
3D Modeling, Motor Planning
Focus
Form and Function
The Hook: "A Bowl from Dirt"
"If you were really thirsty and didn't have a cup, what would you do? People found a way to take the earth and turn it into bowls! Let's see how they did it."
Teaching Steps
1
Pottery Tour
Use the Pottery Path Slides to show vessels. Ask: "What do you think is inside this pot? Water? Corn? Gold?"
2
The Coil Technique
Demonstrate how to roll "snakes" of clay/playdough. Show how to coil them around and around to build up the walls of a vessel.
3
Design on Paper
Hand out the "Vessel Design Sheet." Have students draw the patterns they want to put on their 3D creation.
4
Creation Time
Provide clay or playdough. Circulate and help students stack their coils. Encourage them to use a tool (like a toothpick) to scratch patterns into the sides.
Sensory Vocabulary
Squishy
Smooth
Cold
Heavy
Needed: Air-dry clay or Playdough Tools: Plastic knives or toothpicks Mats: Wax paper or placemats
Pottery Path Slides Pottery Path
Art you can hold in your hands!
Pueblo Pottery
North America 🇺🇸
These pots are made of clay from the earth.
The black and white lines are painted by hand.
Blue & White Jars
China 🇨🇳
These jars are very strong but feel like glass.
They use fancy patterns of flowers and dragons!
How to Build!
1. Roll
Make a snake!
2. Circle
Go round and round!
3. Stack
Build it tall!
Vessel Design Sheet My Pot Design
Name:
Pottery Path
If you made a special pot, what designs would you put on it? Draw your patterns on the vessel below!
What will your pot hold?
Water
Seeds
Gold
Sharing Stories Teacher Guide Sharing Stories
Teacher Guide • Lesson 4
Duration
40-45 Minutes
Skills
Oral Language, Listening
Focus
Identity & Connection
The Hook: "The Secret Treasure Box"
"I have a secret box today. Inside isn't gold or diamonds. It's something my grandma gave me. It's special because it tells a story about my family. Do you have a treasure like that?"
Teaching Steps
1
Define the Artifact
Use the Family Treasures Slides. Explain that an "artifact" is a special object that has a story. It doesn't have to be expensive; it just has to be important to the family.
2
The Treasure Circle
Gather students in a circle. One by one, have them share their "treasure" (or a drawing of it). Encourage them to say: "This is special because..."
3
Question Time
After each student shares, allow two peers to ask a question. Prompt: "What does it feel like?" or "Where does it live in your house?"
4
The Memory Drawing
Hand out the "My Family Treasure" worksheet. Students draw their object and, with teacher help, label one reason why it's special.
Teaching Good Listening
"My eyes are on the speaker."
"My hands are resting."
"My heart is listening."
"I am waiting for my turn."
Teacher Tip: For students who forgot an object, provide a "Museum of Memories" bin with diverse items (a shell, a vintage key, a lace cloth) and ask them to pick one and imagine a story for it.
Family Treasures Slides Family Treasures
What's in your treasure box?
What is a Treasure?
A treasure is an object that tells a story about where you come from.
"It's like a memory you can hold!"
The Memory Box
Examples of Treasures
Old Photos
Who is in the picture?
Special Toys
Who played with this first?
Handmade Art
Who made this for you?
Treasure Sharing Rules
1
Use your "Museum Voice" (Strong & Proud)
2
Listen with your "Whole Body"
3
Be careful with friends' treasures!
My Family Treasure Drawing My Family Treasure
Name:
Our Stories
What is a special treasure in your family? Draw a picture of it below!
This treasure is special because:
Identity Design Teacher Guide Identity Design
Teacher Guide • Lesson 5
Duration
50-60 Minutes
Skills
Design Thinking, Synthesis
Focus
Self-Representation
The Hook: "The Designer's Challenge"
"We've seen patterns from all over the world. But there's one person we haven't seen a pattern for yet... YOU! If you were a special cloth, what colors and shapes would tell *your* story?"
Teaching Steps
1
Identity Brainstorm
Use the My Personal Pattern Slides. Ask: "What are three things you love?" (Animals, the sun, blue, cookies). Brainstorm how to turn those into simple shapes.
2
Pick a "Signature Shape"
Have students choose one main shape. This will be their "stamp." Encourage simplicity—a star, a heart, or even just a thick stripe.
3
Creating the "Fabric"
Distribute the "My Signature Stamp Sheet." Students will draw their shape in the first box, then repeat it across the grid to create a personal pattern.
4
The Gallery Walk
Lay all the finished "fabrics" out on the floor. Have students walk around and see how each "fabric" looks different, just like they are all different.
Final Reflection
"Why did you choose that shape for your pattern?"
"How does it feel to see everyone's designs all together?"
"If you made a real shirt from this, who would you give it to?"
Art Tip
Provide foam shapes and ink pads for students who have difficulty drawing the same shape multiple times.
Curator Note
Take a photo of the group "Gallery Walk" to send home to families as the conclusion of the unit.
My Personal Pattern Slides My Personal Pattern
You are the designer today!
Look at what we found!
Clothes
Weavings
Pottery
Every pattern tells a story about who made it.
What do YOU love?
Think of a shape that makes you happy.
☀️ Sun
❤️ Heart
⭐ Star
🍃 Leaf
Designer Time!
Repeat your favorite shape over and over.
It's time to make your Personal Pattern!
My Signature Stamp Sheet My Signature Pattern
Name:
Master Designer
Draw Your Shape Here First!
?
What does this pattern tell us about you?
"I chose this design because..."
