
This lesson was written with the assumption that the teacher knows how to crochet. If you don't know how to crochet, but would like to learn together with your students, you can refer to some simple crochet tutorials, like those here, and use my lessons as guides to catering towards children.
Materials: You'll need one crochet hook and one ball of yarn in a color that appeals to the student.
I recommend starting with a hook that's a little on the large size, and yarn that's a little on the chunky side, so use a hook that's say 5.5 or 6mm and worsted weight or chunky weight yarn that is appropriate for that hook size.
Lesson 1: How To Hold The Yarn:
The most important thing about learning to crochet, in my opinion, is learning the correct way to hold the yarn and the hook. While there are a few ways to do this, it is crucial that a crocheter learn to hold the yarn between the fingers, as this saves so much time and is the only way to crochet efficiently!
I believe in learning to do things the correct way from the start, and if the child isn't able to hold the yarn correctly, then maybe they're too young to start learning how to crochet. So do stress the importance of this from the start, and even be a little bit strict (in a loving way of course!) about it. I told my students that we will not move forward if they hold the yarn in any other way or start manually looping the yarn over the hook, which is what one who hasn't properly learned to crochet would be inclined to do.
With the youngest student, who also was the least natural I even resorted to some theatrics by making the crochet hook talk in order to remind her how to correctly hold it, and move it!
Mission accomplished! Two out of three got it right away, and the third got it after about half an hour of practicing.
Lesson 1: How To Crochet A Chain
A foundation chain is the first thing one learns to crochet, as it is the simplest thing to crochet, and most projects start with a foundation chain of some kind. (There is a way to start crocheting without a foundation chain, though haven't even tried it myself!)
Teach students how to tie a slip knot, slip it on the hook and start crocheting a chain, by threading the yarn through the fingers correctly, while simultaneously holding the work between the thumb and pointer finger of the same hand. (If you don't know how to do this, there are many videos on You Tube to which you can refer.) It is also important to note that one rotates the wrist, not the arm when crocheting!
Homework:
Practice crocheting chains such that all the stitches are the same size. Encourage students to tear out their work and keep practicing on the same yarn, at least a few times.
That's it for Lesson 1, which may be enough for some beginners, while others will be able to do Lesson 1 and Lesson 2 (to come) in one sitting.