Third Variety Out Handbasket Weaving

Our field standardized testing is over for the year, as well as then the kids are returning to some fun projects inwards their curriculum. Third graders convey a real large unit of measurement on the Oklahoma Land Run. There are several "hands-on" activities sprinkled throughout as well as yesterday I was able to locomote a purpose of 1 of them, basket-weaving. We made "Cherokee Single Wall" baskets, as well as learned that at that topographic point are even as well as then 2 living native indian handbasket weavers inwards the state. Their baskets are sold as well as may earn several hundred dollars each.

Encyclopedia of Oklahoma's History & Culture

A grouping of parents met earlier manus to acquire the baskets started. They shape from the bottom upwards as well as then nosotros got all of the bases started as well as create for the children to convey a practiced starting place.

The strips of reeds were soaked inwards buckets of H2O as well as then they stayed flexible.

Once the children began their part, all they had to do was weave their long reed under/over/under/over the side spokes of the basket.

As they worked it began to shape a bowl shape.

When at that topographic point was most 3-4 inches of the "spokes" left at the top,
the children stopped weaving as well as the instructors folded them over as well as tucked them in
to shape loops along the edge.

It's amazing how differently they all turned out, fifty-fifty though everyone used the same technique as well as supplies. Some were pocket-sized as well as actually tight, some were large as well as had a looser weave. Some had large stripes, some small. Some sat flat, some didn't :)
All are beautiful as well as unique, only similar the footling hands that made them!