Bring in a real quilt as an example, or provide students with pictures. Discuss the design elements, such as pattern, color, texture and size. Emphasize that students' designs must be large enough to be seen from afar.
Break students into small groups equipped with scissors, fabric glue, material scraps, old magazines, glitter, sequins and beads. Ideally, schedule an adult to help at each table.
Distribute felt squares to children. Depending on the size of the class, students may get two squares.
Assign a letter(s) to each student or allow them to choose their own. Students could choose a letter out of a hat to avoid conflict.
Ask students to find or create a picture of their letter. Other options include providing students with large letter templates to trace onto fabric or asking adult helpers to make a letter for each student. Allow students to use creative license in decorating their individual squares with glitter, sequins, beads or material.
Ensure squares are completely dry, then glue them onto a large piece of felt and hang in the classroom. To assemble a quilt that is five quilt squares across and six quilt squares down, design four extra squares to place randomly among the alphabet squares.