1. SHOTA AND THE STAR QUILT

2. Star Quilt Background  Shota and her family are Oglala Lakota, members of the Great Sioux Nation and speak three dialects: Nakota, Dakota and Lakota. The language in this book is Lakota.  Today stars and star quilts are particularly associated with the Lakota.  Star quilts have become central to many celebrations and are both a reminder of the past and a means of carrying Lakota traditions into the future.  The star quilt is a powerful symbol, binding the community together and strengthening ties between generations, just like it does in Shota’s story

3. Teacher reads the book: Shota And The Star Quilt to the class; showing pictures as it is read.

4. Star Quilt Activity CLASSROOM STAR QUILT SUGGESTIONS: divide class into 8 groups (each star quilt has 8 separate large diamonds).  Each group will make one of 8 large diamond for quilt.  Each large diamond contains 25 small diamonds: (5 yellow diamonds; 4 red diamonds; 4 orange diamonds; 12 blue diamonds.) MATERIALS:  yellow, red, orange & blue construction paper.  Small diamond template for each student in each group.  Large diamond template (in teacher’s packet)  rolled paper to mount star quilt (optional)

5. Star Quilt Activity DIRECTIONS for groups: 1. Each student in their group will trace and cut out the diamond patterns of their assigned color (more than 1 student can work on the same color). 2. Each group will take turns (by color) placing their colored diamonds onto the large diamond template. 3. The following order of color needs to be used when placing the diamonds onto the large template: –first-yellow; –second-blue; –third-orange –fourth-red.

6. Star Quilt Activity 3. As they lay their diamonds onto template, they need to tape the diamonds to each other (NOT TO THE TEMPLATE) using small piece of tape. 4. After all diamonds are in place, take a longer piece of tape and reinforce each row of diamonds. 5. Flip taped diamonds over so tape doesn’t show 6. Assemble the 8 section of diamonds of the Star Quilt. 7. DISPLAY STAR QUILT tape each diamond onto rolled paper, as background, OR tape onto a classroom wall.