Students from Clara Brownell Middle School (CBMS) and Umatilla High School (UHS) helped bring the colorful drawings of McNary Heights Elementary School (MHES) students to life! Mrs. Fritz’s Family Consumer Science classes at CBMS and her FCCLA Leadership students at UHS joined forces with kindergarten students from MHES for this creative project.
This project took place over several weeks and began with the kindergarten students being read the book I Need My Monster by Amanda Null out loud by their teachers. This tale follows a young boy who discovers his monster under the bed is missing and searches for a substitute.
After reading the book, Mrs. Fritz’s students visited with the kindergarteners to create their own monster designs. They helped the younger students color and name their monsters, discussing what made each one unique and scary. The 7th through 12th-grade students then used the sewing skills they learned in class to create the monster from the colored templates. They used felt and various stitches to sew the monster together.
Once the monsters were complete, they were brought back to the students' classrooms as special gifts for them to take home. The kinders were excited to see their drawings turned into cuddly companions and were eager to share and compare them with their friends. Every kindergartener received a custom-made monster that resembled their design.
This is the second time Mrs. Fritz has undertaken this project, with the first one taking place two years ago. She said this is a great activity to bridge the gap between the units of child development and sewing.
