©Woolly Thoughts 2019 Contact Us
This was written in
2007
so is now very dated
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Chapters |
We also learned from Julie’s experiences. We had originally produced five different designs, in special booklets for schools, but soon realised that one was much more realistic than the others. The other four were very nice if all the pieces were completed at the same time, ready to be assembled, but, if just one piece was missing, the project could be doomed. The half and half squares, that we had used so often before, had distinct advantages. They could be combined in many different ways and for some pupils studying the shapes was far more important than the knitting. It was also very easy to change the plan right up to the last minute to use the squares that had actually materialised.
The project worked so we were ready to let it loose on schools across the country. There was never a proper advertising campaign but word of mouth and a few passing mentions in magazines started the ball rolling. Very near the start, the offer of free yarn was taken up by the University of Wales where the project was undertaken by trainee teachers who then went out to implement it with children in schools. We gave several suggestions for topics that might be introduced to Maths lessons, often in an informal way based on the practical knitting lessons. Teachers added many more ideas of their own. Some found it difficult to teach the subject in such an informal way but admitted that the relaxed atmosphere encouraged ideas that might never have emerged otherwise. We have received many letters and photographs from pupils and teachers and the only complaint we have ever had was from a little boy who thought it was most unfair that he didn’t have a vote for the choice of design because he was ‘away that day’.
The ideas were picked up by Art and Technology teachers in schools and by their County Advisors. In some areas schemes of work were changed to accommodate the project. We even sent booklets to other countries and they were used across the world. Obviously, most overseas schools were not eligible for the offer of free yarn but at least one batch went to a school for the children of servicemen. The scheme is still in operation now though we have fewer requests each year and the despatch of wool is now being handled by another member of the Confederation.
From the start all requests for free yarn and information came to us, mainly because Mark was terrified that someone might ask a mathematical question that he might not be able to answer. Schools, and other organisations for children, told us the two colours of yarn they would like and how many people were taking part in the project. Yarn and needles were then sent to the school. Usually this happened through the magic of the internet. Within 24 hours of the request, the materials were on the way. Many chose school colours for their yarns which added to the sense of ownership the pupils felt as they worked on their project.
18c. AFGHANS & MATHGHANS continued