WINTHROP — Tadpoles, frogs, lady beetles and insects of all variety fill two-dimensional quart jars on a canary yellow patchwork quilt hanging in the main hallway at Winthrop Grade School.

While similar quilts are patched, this one, says a note on the flip side, was “hatched by Mrs. Hodgkins’ and Miss Alison’s first grade classes.”

The quilt will be raffled off June 21 to raise money for Team G.R.E.G., which is taking part in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Greater Augusta to be held June 20-21 at Hall-Dale High School, Farmingdale.

The team will participate on behalf of the late Greg Prescott, Alison Prescott’s late husband. Greg Prescott died on Oct. 12, 2007, of colon cancer. Alison Prescott is the team captain.

So far, 35 teams or approximately 350 people are signed up to take part in the overnight event. Last year, the Greater Augusta relay raised $82,000, said Melissa Cushman of the American Cancer Society’s Topsham office.

Alison Prescott and Hannah Hodgkins teach first grade at Winthrop Grade School and told the students they planned to participate in the relay to raise money for cancer.

The children wanted to contribute too.

After the teachers said the children couldn’t bring money from their piggy banks, they began to brainstorm about things they could make.

“One kid said we could make a quilt and sell raffle tickets for $100,” Hodgkins recalled. “That engendered a discussion about reasonable prices.”

Then Alison Prescott found the quilt pattern and fabrics available on-line, and the 35 first-graders pitched in to help, cutting out the figures and the squares. Orva Appese, whose twin granddaughters, Baylie and Makayla are in each of the first grade classes, sewed everything together.

Tickets are $1 each or six for $5 at the school and will be available until June 19. Hodgkins said the quilt tickets will also be available at the relay.

Sharon Presti, of Winthrop, bought a book of tickets while shopping at Mr. Market last Sunday.

“I was impressed that the kids that were doing it,” Presti said. “The kids were so cute.”

They were raffling off a few other things and selling baked goods. The quilt, part of a Service Learning Project, is on display at the school and raffle tickets are available at the school office.

Hodgkins said the process offered other learning opportunities for the first-graders.

“We also went and visited the Alfond Center for Cancer Care, and the doctors there talked about skin care and preventing skin cancer. It’s been a wonderful learning experience.”

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com