A semester-long quilting project at Calhoun Middle School taught a group of eighth-graders more than just sewing — it weaved in lessons on critical thinking, problem solving and life skills.

DRC/Al Key

Calhoun Middle School eighth-graders Carlito Baggs, left, Ashley Williams and Leslie Miranda display their prize-winning quilts, made during a semester-long quilting project that incorporated math, art and social skills.

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About 60 students participated in the project, which instructors and volunteers say incorporated mathematics, art and social skills.

Calhoun math teacher Frances Dornan, who led the effort, said she wanted students to use what she was teaching in the classroom in a real-life context.

Many students had never picked up a needle and thread until they started the project, Dornan said, but they soon caught on and created work that went far beyond what she could have dreamed.

Dornan said her students were pushed to be creative. During class, she said, she used project exercises that require math skills such as measurement, problem solving, geometry and special reasoning. Since Calhoun is a candidate school for the rigorous International Baccalaureate program, interdisciplinary studies also were used throughout the project, she said.

Dornan said students started by putting together single quilt blocks, and those were used to construct quilts to be given to babies who have endured trauma. Some students eventually expanded their efforts, creating up to nine quilt blocks, she said.

“Their problem-solving skills and their thinking skills were really challenged doing something they’ve never done before,” Dornan said.

Quilts were generally sewn together after school. Community volunteers joined the effort to assist students and offer tips. On Fridays, Dornan held “quilt parties,” where students could stay as late as 6 p.m. working on their projects and discussing issues ranging from politics to sports.

Quilt materials were provided by Dornan and through community donations.

In their end-of-year class evaluations, students encouraged Dornan to continue the quilting project with eighth-graders next year, saying the project had been challenging and fun. Some wrote that they learned to take pride in what they do, while others said the project pushed them to step out and take a risk with something unfamiliar to them.

Blanche Shull, a stay-at-home mom and volunteer who’s quilted and sewed a total of 42 years since childhood, said she was happy to see “that another generation is not losing the art” of quilting. She said she hopes participants gained a love of creativity and realized they can set out and tackle anything that they want to do.

Dr. Glenna Harris, a Denton school board member who volunteered to assist with the project, said the process allowed students to “start something from scratch and take it to the end.” She said they took something foreign to them and turned it into something of beauty.

“I’m hoping in the long run for these kiddos that they can take on a challenge that they’ve never done before,” Harris said.

Students were graded on measurement, complexity of their design and how well they followed the process, Dornan said. The project’s final consisted of a self-assessment and the finished products. At the project’s end, 50 quilting entries were submitted by students for judging Tuesday in three divisions.

Students’ work was on display to the public Wednesday, and winners received awards on Thursday. The top three quilters in each division received cash prizes — $25 for first place, $15 for second and $10 for third.

BRITNEY TABOR can be reached at 940-566-6876. Her e-mail address is btabor@dentonrc.com .