Shoemaking

The children worked on their shoes as the ground became colder and harder during the Autumn months.  For their first pair, we chose a pattern that is modelled after moccasins.

They the story of Little Tuppen which includes a cow generously offering her leather to make shoes:  http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=baldwin&book=fables&story=tuppen
The 3rd grade was studying textiles this year so they shared an account of how leather is made with our class.  Later, we also heard the Grimm's story of the Elves and the Shoemaker.  It's a story about how the elementals help a hard working craftsperson who gives his trust and effort to the world, even in difficult circumstances. http://www.authorama.com/grimms-fairy-tales-39.html

We sang our shoemaker song while we worked.
The children developed their fine motor skills, joyful focus, and confidence.  They used awls, sewing needles, sinew, and scissors. It's not easy to sew leather! When needed, the shoes will help them to keep both feet "firmly on the ground."  The children grew in relationship with each other as they noticed that everyone had different strengths and humbly helped each other.  Shoes are something they will use almost every day, and now they have a more conscious, direct experience with them.

During our letters block, we played with all the sounds that help us in our work.  During our numbers block, we counted stitches, discovered the twoness of our feet as we stand upright, counted by twos forwards and backwards, stepped our numbers, and played many other number games in preparation for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division which we will explore in February.

We're looking forward to wearing them while we jump rope in the Spring!