Well we’re finally working with the fibers/weaving. I have wanted to do this for a while, but it seemed like too big of an undertaking to figure it all out.

I am so glad we did! It was a very big success for the most part. The boys liked it so much that they asked to come in before school to keep on working on it. How can you turn down determined fifth grade weavers?

We created our cardboard looms by tracing masking tape with a pencil then cutting the circle. We found the center, used a ruler to trace N, S, E, and W. Then we used a ruler to trace in between these, like marking the spot in between West and North (Northwest), the spot between North and East, Northeast, etc.

We ended up with eight measured slots that we cut with our scissors that made an X and a Plus when you looked at the loom.

Then we picked seven different strands of yarn. You could use embroidery thread, but I already had yarn, so that was what we used. Then we tied all seven strands of yarn into one knot, and threaded it through the center hole. After it was threaded through, we then threaded one thread per cut slot, filling up all seven slots with yarn and leaving one empty slot on purpose.

Then we started weaving! I demonstrated it, then demonstrated again, then had each student show me that they understood and problem solved with my loom with them, so they could see individually if needed. Once their woven section could wrap around their wrist with some extra, we took the strands off the loom, tied it off, and trimmed up the edges.

Tying it proved to be a little tricky, so the bracelets were either a little bit loose or a little bit tight. We chose not to make them adjustable.