Michigan 4-H Youth Development


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4-H Youth Development Michigan State University 160 Agriculture Hall East Lansing, MI 48824-1039 USA Phone: 517-432-7575 Fax: 517-355-6748 Email: msue4h@msu.edu Disclaimer & Indicia

Clothing & Textiles/5- to 8-Year-Olds/Reading Literacy

Sew, Read!

Using Children’s Literature to Enhance Project Learning

Sew, Read! is a new 4-H curriculum that takes an innovative approach by using children’s literature as the inspiration for sewing activities. With this thematic approach, kids not only learn basic sewing skills, they also strengthen their reading, math and geography skills.

Sew, Read! is designed to help you generate enthusiasm for reading and sewing among 5- to 8-year-olds. By participating in Sew, Read! activities, children can:

Increase their reading and listening skills.
Increase their self-confidence and self-esteem.
Refine their use of small muscles for fine motor skills.
Develop problem-solving skills, math skills and creative thinking.
Develop friendships and learn how to work together with other children.
Learn basic hand sewing skills (such as how to thread a needle, tie a knot and do a running stitch).
Learn basic machine sewing skills (such as knowing the parts of a machine, how to thread a machine and how to do a straight machine stitch).

Fun and Interactive Kits

The Sew, Read! kits are designed to help children explore reading and sewing. Each kit contains a major sewing activity related to a children’s storybook. The first published kit is: "The Boy and the Quilt"

4-H 1561, Sew, Read! The Boy and the Quilt (written by Shirley Kurtz, illustrated by Cheryl Benner, published by Good Books, Intercourse, PA, 1991). In this colorful book, a young boy creates his very own quilt, with some help from his mom. He learns about all the steps involved in making his quilt into “one big, wonderful, crazy piece” to keep him warm on cold nights.

The “Sew, Read! The Boy and the Quilt” kit contains a 32-page leader guide, a copy of the children’s book, The Boy and the Quilt, a handmade sample quilt, quilt piece templates, 6 pairs of scissors and 16 needles. To order the “Sew, Read! The Boy and the Quilt” kit, contact the MSU Bulletin Office .

Download a sample activity sheet: "Sew Read Word Search"
You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print this pdf (Portable Document Format) files. If you don't already have the Acrobat Reader, you can click on the "Get Acrobat Reader" button to download it from the Adobe site.

Other kits in development include:

Sew, Read! The Purple Coat (written by Amy Hest, illustrated by Amy Schwartz, published by Aladdin Books, Macmillan Publishing Company, NY, 1992).
Sew, Read! The Bedspread (written and illustrated by Sylvia Fair, published by Morrow Junior Books, NY, 1982).
Sew, Read! The Land of the Four Winds (written by Veronica Freeman Ellis, illustrated by Sylvia Walker, published by Just Us Books, Orange, NJ, 1993).

Where to Use Sew, Read!

The Sew, Read! materials can be used with 5- to 8-year-old children in 4-H clubs, afterschool programs and community centers, classrooms, summer daycamps, libraries and homes.

Online Resources

Training & Events

For upcoming training and events in this area, check the 4-H Volunteer Workshops web site, the MSU Extension Calendar and the 4-H Exploration Days web site.

Contact Information

For more information on how to get involved as a youth or volunteer, contact your county MSU Extension office or:

4-H Youth Development
Michigan State University
160 Agriculture Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1039
USA
Phone: 517-432-7575
Fax: 517-353-6748
Email: msue4h@msu.edu