BEAD QUEST

A String of Beads:
a multidisciplinary webquest

Grade 3

Beads have been used for many years by people around the world for creating patterns in jewelry, clothing, and other practical and decorative items. Join us for an excursion to learn about this fascinating subject, then create your own patterns.

This is a multi-part and multi-discipline webquest that includes mathematics, art, social studies, science, and language arts components.

NC Standard Course of Study Objectives for this unit.

The inspiration and basis for the quest is the book, A String of Beads, by Margarette Reid. After reading or hearing the book, students can tour web sites which feature beads from different cultures and times. Then they are invited to select three beads and complete a necklace design page that demonstrates a repeating and linear pattern. In the next segment students will find and follow simple directions for creating a beaded animal or other object of their choice with pony beads. Finally, the students are asked to apply what they have learned about design and pattern to create their own pattern including written how-to instructions for others to follow.

Resources needed for this unit.

Steps:

Read the book: A String of Beads by Margarette Reid.

Tour as many of the following web sites as you like to view beads from around the world (just click back to return to this page).

• Gallery of Beautiful Beadwork
• Soroban Museum
• Quill and Beadwork - Luxton Museum
• Athabaskan Beadwork, University of Alaska Museum

Print out the Bead Pattern Sheet

Print out the Necklace pattern Sheet

Complete the bead pattern sheet and necklace with copies of three beads that you like from the following site.

• Tiger Tiger's Beads
  

Wow! Are you ready to make your own object with beads? Get some pony beads and string. Click on one of the sites to find an animal or object you would like to make. Follow the how-to directions and create your own beaded object.

• Making Friends Pony Bead Projects
• Beady's Patterns by Westrim

Is there an original animal, plant, or other design that you would like to make? Click below and print out the bead design page.

• Bead Graph Paper

Get out your colored pencils and fill in the pattern.

Now, can you make the object? Try it and then write instructions for someone else to follow.

Print out this graphic organizer, if you like.

This Bead Quest was authored by Sue Kimmel, Librarian, Archer Elementary School, Guilford County.

kimmels@guilford.k12.nc.us

GCS WebQuests