Dave Sharpe
11-05-2009, 12:19 AM
And now for the latest installment in my ongoing saga to attempt to teach woodworking skills to some local youth. My group has grown to six kids, and I've gotten a bit better organized and have even developed....... A PLAN! I'd begun a month or so ago with the idea that the kids (ages 10-16) needed to feel a sense of accomplishment so I tried to have them complete a simple project each week. The problem is that I ended up doing most of the work beforehand so I could hand each student a "kit" that only needed minimal woodworking skills to complete - a box, bookends, etc. While this lets them feel they've completed a project, it doesn't really teach them woodworking. I also found that if one kid was absent, either he missed the lesson, or I had to go back and cover the material again for one kid while the others sat around. In addition, each student learns differently and it's tough to balance each student's needs in the limited time we have each week.
SO - I sat down and wrote out a "modular" teaching plan. Basically, each module covers one aspect of working with wood, and lists various requirements to compete that module (can you tell I was a Boy Scout and earned lots of merit badges?) For example, Module 1 is Shop Safety, and each student is required to identify various hazards in the shop, explain what to do in case of an injury or an emergency, show me where the fire extinguisher and first aid kit is, etc. They also must demonstrate that they know how to use dust masks, eye and hearing protection, as well as explain when each should be used.
Today we covered all of that (as a review) and moved on to module 2 - Measuring, Marking and Layout. After I demonstrated things like how to use a tape measure, combination square, try square, and such, each student was given a 6 foot length of 1x6 pine and a list of marks to make on that board. These included making a line at leat 10"long that was 1" from the edge, a line at 90 degrees and another at 45 degrees from that line. Then they had to find the center point of the board, and make similar measurements on a full sheet of plywood. I discovered that I shouldn't assume that kids already know how to measure things - some of them had no idea what all those little lines on a ruler are for! Seriously! But they had fun learning and marking all over their boards, and seemed genuinely excited to check off each requirement on the list. There's also a big "status board" on the wall on which they can each check off modules they have completed so they can see their progress.
We move on next to hand tools, and they will have several requirements for basic hand tools, then move on to hand-held power tools such as a jigsaw, sander, etc. The idea is that each module builds on prior lessons, and after being "qualified" on a particular tool, they can feel free to use that tool in class to work on their own projects.
In the meantime, that 6' board each of them has will be used in each module, gradually being turned into a simple hat rack with a shelf. This way each module moves them closer to completing a project - and I have a completed example for them to see and compare their work against. The modules let each kid work at his own pace, with set goals to complete whenever they want. Some may want to plow through and get them all done quickly, then start on a personal project, while others may want to take longer to get there.
SO - I sat down and wrote out a "modular" teaching plan. Basically, each module covers one aspect of working with wood, and lists various requirements to compete that module (can you tell I was a Boy Scout and earned lots of merit badges?) For example, Module 1 is Shop Safety, and each student is required to identify various hazards in the shop, explain what to do in case of an injury or an emergency, show me where the fire extinguisher and first aid kit is, etc. They also must demonstrate that they know how to use dust masks, eye and hearing protection, as well as explain when each should be used.
Today we covered all of that (as a review) and moved on to module 2 - Measuring, Marking and Layout. After I demonstrated things like how to use a tape measure, combination square, try square, and such, each student was given a 6 foot length of 1x6 pine and a list of marks to make on that board. These included making a line at leat 10"long that was 1" from the edge, a line at 90 degrees and another at 45 degrees from that line. Then they had to find the center point of the board, and make similar measurements on a full sheet of plywood. I discovered that I shouldn't assume that kids already know how to measure things - some of them had no idea what all those little lines on a ruler are for! Seriously! But they had fun learning and marking all over their boards, and seemed genuinely excited to check off each requirement on the list. There's also a big "status board" on the wall on which they can each check off modules they have completed so they can see their progress.
We move on next to hand tools, and they will have several requirements for basic hand tools, then move on to hand-held power tools such as a jigsaw, sander, etc. The idea is that each module builds on prior lessons, and after being "qualified" on a particular tool, they can feel free to use that tool in class to work on their own projects.
In the meantime, that 6' board each of them has will be used in each module, gradually being turned into a simple hat rack with a shelf. This way each module moves them closer to completing a project - and I have a completed example for them to see and compare their work against. The modules let each kid work at his own pace, with set goals to complete whenever they want. Some may want to plow through and get them all done quickly, then start on a personal project, while others may want to take longer to get there.