LOWER SCHOOL WOODWORKING

Lower school students are challenged to design and build increasingly difficult wood projects. Students start by making a box. Design and construction of a box touches upon all aspects of woodworking: determining size and shape, drafting, selecting wood, measuring, marking, cutting, drilling pilot holes, gluing, nailing, sanding, and finishing. This project also introduces students to the following handtools: tape measures, squares, saws, drills, hammers, and sanders.

Once students have completed their box they are encouraged to make more difficult and complex projects using progressively more difficult tools such as scroll saws, jigsaws, and "Dremel" carving tools. Numerous pattern books are available for reference and use. Projects include boats, cut out animals, signs, puzzles, magazine racks, and much, much, more.

Gate House students (Grade 5) develop a small business that produces Bluebird houses for a retail market. Along with marketing, sales, and shipping, students learn to operate a manufacturing assembly line that produces several hundred bluebird houses over a six week period. Students set up production jig stations to assemble the birdhouses with one student responsible for using a nailgun to nail them together. There are also quality control and repair stations in the production line. When students find a good rhythm they can produce a quality bird house every two minutes.