Advisor:  Ms. Szucs

Math Team 2011-2012

QUILTS FOR CHILDREN IN NEED

By Liz Wyman

Student Writer

On a busy Monday morning last spring, students in Ms. Szucs’ geometry classes were seen cutting shapes out of fabric and sewing quickly to finish their quilt blocks. For last year’s geometry classes, part of their finals were to make their own quilt blocks following a few mathematical guidelines. These quilts will be donated later this fall to the local firehouse where they’re given to infants and toddlers in need.

According to Ms. Szucs, it’s basically a fun project that combines geometry and quilt making together, using topics commonly found in geometry like translations, rotations, reflections, and symmetry. The project is a percentage of their grade, taking about a week and a half to complete.

“It’s very different and interesting, probably not something you would do in an ordinary geometry class,” Mandie Umel, junior, said of the project.

Ms. Szucs thought that from the students’ perspective they enjoyed it. She also commented that, “I think it’s an interesting application of this part of geometry and learning to sew isn’t a bad thing.”

The project seems successful since here at Brewer High we have done  this project for two years now, except this  year because Ms. Szucs does not have any geometry classes.  Almost all of the students completed their quilt squares this past year with Ms. Szucs and her mom finishing the rest.

The teachers and people involved in this project included Ms. Szucs, Ms. Peterson, Ms. Adair, and also Ms. Szucs’ mom who helped out with the steps to design and make quilts.  If you’d like to donate anything to this project, or learn more, than go onto Brewer High School’s website www.brewerhs.org or contact Ms. Szucs.