I am looking to start an after school program for children who are about 11-13 years old. Just a couple of hours a week. I have been looking for ideas regarding projects. Do you have any ideas?
I also would like to seek any advice as to what hand tools I should buy for each of the students?
Thanks, all the best.
Gedaliah
Replies
I do programs for kids - ages from 6ish to 12ish. I do more stock prep for the younger set, down to drilling holes for nails; that helps a lot to turn out a decent looking final product.
I aim to have half as many tools as participants as I expect them to work together (which ain't always easy, LOL). It also means only half as much is going on at any one time, which makes it easier to keep track. I generally limit class size to ten, but I have done 12.
Standard products:
Tools:
There's probably some others as well. I try, as much as possible, to have quality tools. I've been known to bring in some junkers so that the kids learn the difference between a quality tool and one that ain't.
You can get other ideas for stuff to build from books sold by - Lee Valley. You might also check your local library.
Good luck!
Edited 5/28/2007 8:56 pm ET by EdHarrow
Edited 5/28/2007 8:57 pm ET by EdHarrow
Ged
I've done a few classes for kids that age, and a wee bit younger (9 to 14). I concentrate predominantly on hand tool use and application. I always have the stock preperation complete before class begins. I personally don't think kids this age should be around planers and jointers, and most that I've been around would be scared away from woodworking if I had them doing it by hand.
We have always built a toolbox that they take home with them.
All of the kids taking the class were either friends of my children when they were younger, or, recently, children of customers who've bought furniture from me.
Jeff
Hi Gedalia... Try to get a copy of 'Woodworking With Kids' by Richard Starr. It is (was) published by Taunton Press - first printed in 1982. ISBN numbrt 0-918804-14-0. It's all hand-tool oriented. I'm a retired Industrial Arts teacher (grades 7 & 8) so my stidents were in the 11 to 13 year old range. This age group can safely opperate a drill press and scroll saw without too much of a learning curve. The scroll saw is closely related to a sewing machine, so if they know how to use a sewing machine, the're 3/4 the way there. I'd use a coping saw blade in the scroll saw in place of the super-fine blade most scrollers use as the students usually apply too much pressure and snap those fine blades. My students were able to gandle a lathe, using scraping cuts rather than the sheering cuts that are popular today. Electric drills, hand sanders and even a 4" wide belt sander are within their skill level, but you must remind them that sanding is a FINISHING step and not a way to grind the wood to a line. Yes,a foot-stool and tool tote are great (and usueful) projects. The tool tote uses a minimum amount of wood, and depending on how YOU design it, can teach many different processes.
For the scroll saw, if your student has a lower eye-hand coordination levil, don't be afraid to make the cutting lines both wider and darker. I've had several handicapped students who could not follow a pencil line but could follow a medium width magic marker line. The contrast of color between the wood and the magic marker line madi it easier to see and to follow. I don't know what types of SOFT wood you have available to you in Israel, but White Pine and Poplar generally have a nice streight grain and are easy to nail, glue and finish.
I'll be glad to help with patterns and ideas if you need them.
SawdustSteve
I used to work in a cabinet shop in a restoration village/museum (think Williamsburg on a budget). We gave classes to kids from 12 to 60+ yrs. old. ;-)
Everyone started on the same project -- to reproduce a stepstool that was in one of the restored homes in the museum. The students first measured the piece and produced whatever drawings/notes they needed to reproduce the piece, and were given sufficient wood (s2s pine) to complete the project. They were provided the following tools/supplies:
try square
bevel guage
utility knife
handsaw
coping saw
block plane
spokeshave
brace and bit
chisel and mallet
four-in-hand file
Glue
Sandpaper
Burnt umber pigment & turpentine
Boiled Linseed Oil
Guidance was given in the use of the tools and the required joinery -- the most difficult was a shallow angled mortise chopped into the underside of the stool to recieve the legs.
The results were pretty great. Most successfully completed the project and went on to tackle increasingly difficult pieces, many of which were also reproductions of furniture in the museum, and many fairly difficult. Only hand tools were used. (One kid even turned the column for a tilt-top table on the huge antique treadle lathe that was in the shop.) IMHO, the best part of the class was that the students learned how to build projects without having to rely on printed plans. They learned to understand the logic of joinery and the methods for accomplishing the desired results.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Howdy........
This fellow has an emphasis on teaching kids and there's a book in the site somewhere.
http://www.woodworkersresource.com/just_for_kids/
Neil
My video blog.........Episode 7 - Finish Samples and Drawer Faces
http://furnitology.blogspot.com/index.html]
Bird houses are a good project.
This group is in NC and have been doing the program for a while.
http://www.kidsmakingit.org/
Check with your local state university's Co-operative Extension Program for the 4-H woodworking projects. It's fairly standardized across the country and is oriented toward this age group (actually 8-18 years old). It will give you some ideas and you can plug into 4-H's resources.
Hey- I think I took your class when I was 11 years old.
I made a simple hinged box- still have it- hand cut rabbits with a back saw- every kid needs a box to keep stuff.
Also a spice rack- my mom still has it :-)
don't forget the cutting board- stock was prepped for us- we cut a shape with a coping saw-rounded the edges with a file and sand paper- still have that too- mahogany and maple.
good luck
Dave
I am retired now but taught in-school woodworking programs ranging from 7th grade to senior in high school for 38 years in Indiana. The age group you refer to is junior high. If you can get hold of some older "Woodworker's Journals", they have some really good beginning to intermediate level projects.
As to what tools to buy, I would buy a good set of basic hand tools in quantities based on your enrollment. You won't need one for each student but enough so that students will not have to wait in line for a tool. Regarding power tools, this age level should not use circular saws, (table, radial or portable), jointers, planers or shapers. However, miter saws are O.K. if used after proper instruction and under proper supervision. Also, at this level, students can use jigsaws, small bandsaws (14 inch and smaller), drill press, lathe, and sanding machines. Most portable power tools are acceptable. All tools and machines should only be used when under supervision and after giving and documenting safety instruction. Also, be sure that you have a good insurance policy. Another thing to consider is that some of these yougsters are not fully grown both physically and mentally, so keep your equipment in the smaller sizes. You may have to build platforms for some of them to stand on while working. Good luck and be alert at all times. Never, never leave the room with kids in it unless you leave another qualified person in charge.
Gedaliahblum - are you still with us?
Ged,
I start them off with the new Festool Domino. If they learn the basics (the Domino, biscuit joiner, Leigh Dovetailer)then everything else will come easily. I'd get them access to all of Norm's tapes. Reward good progress with a nice a tee shirt with Norm's photo on it.
As far as designs, I'd stick with classical furniture, that is, the Thomasville line. You cant go wrong with the classics.
As their skill levels increase you can introduce them to Thomas Chippendale's "Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director", but not to soon. To do that stuff you need to have them learn to use hand tools (gauges for the carving). You don't want to do that until they have a good foundation in using a table saw, a thicknessing sander, etc. The Domino will simplify things a great deal. Letting kids get their hands on hand tools before they are ready is dangerous. Those things can be really sharp.
Have fun.
Mel
PS Hope you didn't take that too seriously. You already have a bunch of really great answers. I thought you'd enjoy some humor.
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
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