Wool Works! Weaving Fiber into the National Standards: A Curriculum for Teachers

Humans have held an intimate relationship with sheep and wool that tracks back through 10,000 years of history. The processing of sheep and wool into usable clothing, shelter and food has been ultimately responsible for advances in technology, math and science over time. This workshop is based on the newly developed Wool Works! Curriculum Guide, written as a collaborative project between Sunpower Farm and Harrisville Design, the loom company. This workshop will give an overview of the curriculum that helps teachers teach to the National Standards in Math, Science, Social Studies and Language Arts through the use of Woolcraft in the classroom.

Needle Felted Gnome Workshop

Create your own three dimensional sculptured gnome created completely from wool. Participants will learn how to make realistic facial features and body shapes using a dry felting technique known as needle felting (see our photo gallery for some samples of Lorna's needle felted creations.) We take up to 15 people in this traveling workshop, so gather a group of friends to share the cost, and learn to create a myriad of creatures. Strategies for using needle felting techniques in the classroom will be discussed (if teachers book this workshop), as well as curriculum applications for needle felting. Classroom supplies will be available for purchase at the workshop.

Many people develop blocks to their creative right brain early in life, leading them to believe that they can’t draw. Nature Notebook is a highly field tested enrichment program that incorporates nature drawing, scientific observation and creative writing as tools for bridging communication between the right and left brain. Participants will examine their own creative blocks and learn techniques to help students address these issues. No prior art experience needed, and each participant will recieve a copy of the Nature Notebook curriculum guide.

Lorna McMaster holds a masters degree in Gifted and Talented Education and has over 20 years of professional experience in the field of public education, teacher training and educational consulting. She has been presenting teacher workshops for the past ten years, has written four (4) curriculum guides for teachers, and has presented all over New England. In addition, she is a fiber artist and is a member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen. CEU credit is available for all workshops.