The following is a rough outline of the handwork and craft curriculum as it progresses through the grades. It may well be that as we develop the Curriculum we change some of this around somewhat, add to it and take from it, but we wanted people to get an idea of how the handwork curriculum, like the rest of the Christopherus Curriculum, flows and develops over the years. So please regard this document as a “work in progress”!

We have had assistance in developing our handwork curriculum. Lauri Bolland (whose daughter Grace is pictured to the right, holding a finished project from the 3rd grade curriculum) created most of our 2nd and 3rd grade handwork projects. And Lisa Marshall developed our 4th grade handwork curriculum and will be working with us into the future.

1st Grade

Working with wool – carding, making crafts. Knitting. Seasonal nature crafts. Making puppets. (First Grade Curriculum)

2nd Grade

Continuing with wool – using a drop spindle if possible; dyeing wool; knitting and crocheting. Simple felting projects. Seasonal nature crafts. Making puppets. (Second Grade Curriculum)

3rd Grade

Native American crafts; using a drop spindle; crocheting a hat; simple felting project; making a needle case and a felt pocket organizer; carpentry. (Third Grade Curriculum)

4th Grade

Macramé; knitting a hat and mittens; crocheting various items; quilting 1; needle felting; paper crafts; whittling; carpentry. (Fourth Grade Curriculum)

5th Grade

Cross-stitch pillow with geometric pattern; 4 needle socks; quilting 2; geometric star patterns for windows; batik print; simple weaving; more whittling. (Fifth Grade Curriculum)

6th Grade

Woodwork – salad spoon and fork; mosaic; further block printing; sewing project such as an apron; moveable wooden toys; soft stone carving.

7th Grade

Knit a sweater; origami and similar complex crafts; jewelry making; carve a bowl; embroidered pattern using early Christian (e.g. Book of Kells) or Islamic calligraphy.

8th Grade

Following a pattern and using a sewing machine to make a shirt; build a doll’s house or a box with hinges; make paper and a book; make a doll.