Hi Everyone,
In the early Spring I moved into a big downtown industrial building that I bought with 4 partners. Most of us intend to live and work there in the wonderful loft spaces.
It is located in a “rundown” section of town of course.
There is a local arts group ( I’m a sculptor on hiatus) that has been organizing neighborhood clean up days with the community association. I have been participating and getting to know people.
This last weekend I was pruning trees with a handsaw and all the kids wanted to use it. Some of them could’nt get enough of just sawing a branch into pieces. I know these kids are just starved for something to do. So I thought of doing some simple woodworking classes but have no idea of how I would begin.
So if any of you have ideas/experience about how to go about
this on a really basic level with simple tools and materials I would greatly appreciate your input!
Thanks in advance,
Tom
Replies
I taught a workshop to some college students once. We basically built a toolbox. Simple construction: butt joints, nails, piano hinge, latches and handle. I pre-cut the plywood. These students did not have the basic skills to put these together prior to the workshop, but all did at the end. Of course, to these older "kids" I was able to discuss all the reasons and ramifications of what we were doing, something that your young kids might not understand. Anyway, all learned something, the project could be finished in short order, and everyone had a very useful box when they were done.
Remembering more now....some of the students knew nails, so they made theirs with the "advanced" technique of drilling and dowling. Then I showed them how to pare the dowels off flush using a chisel. You might want to let the young kids leave the dowels proud.
I guess this is sort of off the topic, but here goes. I volunteered as a mentor for a local FIRST team. It is a national robotics league started by Dean Kamen about 12 years ago. Here are some sites to visit http://www.team930.com and http://www.usfirst.org . Makes for some interesting reading and it was very rewarding.
Anyhow, when you have to start building this robot, you divide the group up: Drivetrain and Chassis, Special Functions, Controls/Programming. We had about 18-20 kids at the start. 25% wanted to actually build stuff (the first two groups) and the rest wanted to be on the Controls/Programming team.
When we got started, it was obvious that few had ever worked with tools before. By the end, it was so neat to see these kids take ownership of this thing and function without our input.
I really hope you can get your school moving. Pay no attention to any nay-sayers. Partner with a nearby Industrial Arts (aka-shop) teacher. And have fun.Steelkilt Lives!
How bout having the kids make a picket fense and installing it on a piece of public land...to start a garden in the community. Between sanding and using a miter box all those big muscles will get a good workout....good luck
Great idea!!
I am a cabinet maker by trade and often work in my shop, which is in my home, on week-ends. Last year a new neighbor's son, about 12 years old, came into my shop while I was working. He expressed great interest in making something. Whenever he heard a piece of machinery he was in the shop. I felt this kid is serious about making something.
After talking to his parents about his desire and getting their approval the young man and I went through some woodworking magazines to pick out a project; a simple one for the first endeavor. He decided on a bird house. I told him to go home and make a simple sketct of what he wanted with approximate dimensions and to bring it to me when he was done for examination. He was waiting for me when I got hime the next day.
I made all the cuts that required power equipment and he did the rest, with my supervision, from drilling to sanding and painting. It was a thrill for the both of us. I truly enjoyed those few hours I spent teaching this young man about tools and wood, etc. Until then he never had a hammer or nail in his hand.
I understand how you feel about teaching these kids. It is a very rewarding experience. Some suggestions:
Get their parents permission.
Make the projects simple and quick at first.
Teach safety
Use mostly hand tools.
Don't let them use the table saw...yet...for obvious reasons.
Be very observant and watch for potential injuries.
Good luck. I know you will enjoy the experience, and PLEASE, keep us informed.
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for the feedback to date.
I like the idea about making a fence or doing something for the community as these kids always show up at the community clean ups just to have something to do!
Certainly kids and sharp objects scares the bejeezus out of me.
But watching the kids with the saws, they were fairly careful with it around the other kids.
The idea of cutting parts and having the kids do a bit of fitting and assembly is probably a good way to start as well.
Anyway, I'm working on it. I have a compatriot who has an idea for getting a bit of funding as well.
I'll let you know!
Tom
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