Freedom Quilts with Secret Code

How much do you know about quilts and secret codes? Did you know that slaves in the South used the patterns on quilts to help guide them through the Underground Railroad to freedom? Hidden in Plain View outlines the struggles and triumphs of the the Underground Railroads quilt code creators and secret keepers.

We celebrated Black History Month by learning more about the history of African Americans in this country. The fourth graders learned all about the codes and quilt creation. If you ask, maybe they’ll tell you some of the secret codes...maybe.

They created their own quilts by learning about the meanings behind the different patterns, creating a grid through measurement, and then applied their plan to their final work using a number system.  After the numbers were entered into their grids they applied their colored papers to the grid.  We used specialty papers that included metallic, animal print, embossed and stitched designs.  Student finalized their work by explaining the meaning of their quilts in a short written paragraph.

Quilt Code Patterns