3. The Dignity of Work

the story of kidknits yarn

For most people in the world, having work means that they can earn the basic necessities of life, and perhaps more. Work gives us freedom from want and the dignity of being able to provide for ourselves.

But what if there is no work? What if nothing makes it possible for people to earn a living for themselves and their families? KidKnits was created to help solve that problem for some Rwandans—and that’s how the yarn you’re using came to you from the other side of the world.

Goal: Students will understand how work contributes to human dignity, as well as human welfare. They will know where the yarn they’re using comes from and how this helps to improve lives on the other side of the world.

Activities: Students will be asked to consider and respond to questions on the topic of work. They will watch a short video on how the yarn was created in Rwanda. They will use math worksheets to better understand the practical side of producing yarn.

See the Module 3 Lesson Plan for details on these activities.

Materials: Images of Rwandan women working, a video on the yarn, math worksheets, and reflection handouts are provided with the KidKnits lesson plan.
Knitting supplies and instructions are provided in the KidKnits craft kit.
Students will need pencils or pens.

Advance Preparation: Print out the PDF worksheet files. Set up any necessary equipment to show the video, and familiarize yourself with the materials for this module.

Core Standards: This is a flexible program that gives teachers the opportunity to connect with specific core standards in English and Math. The suggested class schedule below lists applicable core standards for grades 4 and 5. In addition, this program can enrich student learning in history, geography, or other aspects of social studies.

Suggested schedule for Module 3

The Dignity of Work: the story of Kidknits yarn

CLASS ACTIVITY / POSSIBLE CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
5 minutes
Ask students to explain the meaning of one or more quotations and respond to questions about work. / Relate this discussion to any previous or current social studies materials about how people make a living.
Speaking and Listening Standards K–5
Grades 4 and 5: #1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
5 minutes
Use the video as an introduction to math activities. / Relate this discussion to any previous or current social studies units.
15 minutes
Math activity sheets presenting word problems based on the KidKnits program. / Operations and Algebraic Thinking 4.OA
Use the four operations with whole numbers to solve problems.
Solve multistep word problems …
Measurement and Data 4.MD
Solve problems involving measurement and conversion of
measurements from a larger unit to a smaller unit.
Geometry 5.G
Graph points on the coordinate plane to solve real-world and
mathematical problems.
Number and Operations in Base Ten 5.NBT
Perform operations with multi-digit whole numbers and with
decimals to hundredths.
20 minutes, or the rest of the class period
Continue knitting project using KidKnits kits. / Manual dexterity; hands-on learning.
Social Studies: This hands-on project provides a means of contributing to the welfare of others. The connections of the knitting project to life in other cultures will be developed throughout the KidKnits program.
Optional during or after knitting activity
Written reflection on the experience of trying to meet actual needs with $1.00 per day. / Writing Standards K–5
Grades 4 and 5: #1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.

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