Most English teachers might have their students explain literary characters and themes through essays, but a teacher at Starr’s Mill High is trying a different approach, quilting.

Students in Gwen Thibadeau’s ninth grade literature classes have been creating literary quilts for books they have read this year. So far they have completed two quilts for the books “Fahrenheit 451” and “To Kill a Mockingbird,” as well as two heroic trait quilts. Students are currently finishing quilts for “Romeo and Juliet.”

Students work in groups to create quilt blocks that are sewn together by Thibadeau to make the final quilt. She assigns each group a focus for their quilt block such as analysis of characters, underlying theme, main message or the author’s idea, belief or style.

Students use their creativity to design an image that represents their interpretation and they write a rationale explaining their use of symbology to convey their thoughts. They are responsible for sewing their own quilt blocks, including the selection of fabrics and threads.

“Fortunately most of the students took home economics in middle school and learned how to sew there. I gave them a quick refresher courses on sewing and using the sewing machines and they ran with it,” says Thibadeau.

The project provides an innovative way for Thibadeau to teach students how to identify themes, character traits and symbols while taking writing across the curriculum by juxtaposing it with other subjects such as math, art and design.

“The students have really taken to this project, they beg to do it. They love visually representing what they are reading,” says Thibadeau.

Students say the experience has helped them better understand the books they are studying while at the same time teaching them life skills that they can use beyond high school.

“Quilting has helped the overall classroom experience. We have learned to be creative and symbolic in a new and interesting way. I have learned how to use new skills and to work with others. These projects have been a fun and entertaining way to learn about English,” says student Katie Pierce

Not only are the quilts reinforcing academics, but they are also teaching students about community service. The finished quilts will be sold at a silent auction May 16 at 6:30 p.m., at the school with all proceeds going to charitable organizations selected by the students

“The students have given me names of lots of organizations they would like to help, most of them along the lines of battered women’s and children’s shelters and homeless shelters,” says Thibadeau.

Thibadeau hopes to have a total of 10 quilts for the auction. She has not set a fundraising goal but says handmade quilts can cost upwards of $300-400.

Thibadeau says she got the literary quilts idea while lying in the bathtub one night thinking of ways to get a grant through the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance grant.

“Honestly, other than that, I don’t really know where the idea came from. I was just trying to think of something creative, innovative and different,” she says.

Another great aspect to Thibadeau’s idea is that it is putting to use some 14-15 sewing machines that would otherwise be sitting idle since Georgia took the textiles portion of Family and Consumer Sciences out of the curriculum.