Learners examine a "Bird of Paradise Quilt Top" to discover what the themes and patterns tell about mid-nineteenth-century America.  In this American Folk Art lesson plan, students discuss the possible creator of the quilt and the symbols that appear in the quilt.  Learners speculate on the reason that the male figure is not included with the female figure on the quilt.  Students create their own version of the quilt, using images that reflect their modern world.