Thread: What to teach kids

Originally Posted by Phil Hansen

I have been asked if I would take a couple of 10-12 yr olds and give them some woodworking lessons.
Anybody done this before?
Where do you start?
I cannot remember what I was taught at that age when at school. (No woodwork any more in the cirriculam)
Also a good first project.

Thanks for any ideas.

Phil

In 2009 Doug Stowe posted a couple of YouTube videos in this forum about work he'd done with kids based on the old Sloyd woodwork teaching system. Doug also wrote a couple of articles in the now defunct Woodwork Magazine. So chasing that up might give you some ideas.

Start with a rundown on basic hand tools and safety.

Teach them how to use a plane,a saw and a marking gauge.
Include things like proper stance, not rushing etc.

A good first project would be something simple and useful, say a cutting board - laminated.
That gives them plenty of planing practice, getting things square, sawing etc.

I'd also include some informal stuphph such as bringing in different and interesting types of
timber, explaining medullary rays etc..

Good luck!!

Marksmanship = the bull'seye is the nail, not your thumb.
Layout = they can't cut what they need unless the line is where it's supposed to be.
Handsaw = start, run, finish without too many splinters.
Project: birdhouse.

Why not start with making a tool-tidy (one of the open-topped ones with a handle), then a couple of tools to put in it - a square and a marking gauge? They can learn how to use planes, chisels, saws, hand drills/braces, measure, the importance of angles, and have some tools of their own to work with. Also, the marking gauge can be considered training in making through-mortice and tenon joints, butt or half-lap joints on the tool-tidy and bridle joints on the square.

From vague memory, when I was at school, in the first semester of Year 7 we cut and carved a wooden spoon, made a coat hook (with a dovetail rather than half-lap joint) and a cd-rack. But that was 27 years ago, so I could well be wrong. (the coat hook is still in use).

Thanks for all the replies.
Some very good info and suggestions.
This will give me a great start in setting it up.
Will look for the videos and try and find the Woodwork mag articles.
Thanks all

Phil

Originally Posted by Glennet

In 2009 Doug Stowe posted a couple of YouTube videos in this forum about work he'd done with kids based on the old Sloyd woodwork teaching system. Doug also wrote a couple of articles in the now defunct Woodwork Magazine. So chasing that up might give you some ideas.

I found July 2008 thread on the forum....lots of stuff on google too....
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f11/educational-sloyd-76341

Got Doug Stowes article and watched the videos. Thanks for the links.
Making a list of tools needed for the toolbox (not using mine!)
I have never used a pull saw but see they are used exclusively in the videos.
For someone starting out are they easier to use?
If so will have to get one to try.

Phil

See if you can teach them some simple manners too.

Safety first.
Measure and mark accurately.
Cut accurately.

The accuracy to be related to the job.

Going back to 1973, the little form 1 woodwork that I did, (one class a week) the first project was to mark and plane a block of wood to size. Second project was a "paint stirrer". After that the little projects we made included a pot stand and a letter holder. In form 2 where we might have had about a twenty classes for the year, about the only project I can remember making was an octagonal cutting board. Single piece of timber with four corners cut off and the top rounded over.
Hand tools were the order of the day; tennant saw, marking gauge, plane, hand router and hammer. The only power tool we were shown how to use was the drill press. The teacher sharpened the plane blades and roughly cut the stock to size.

Some of the items that were made I still have, but the memories of how to do things are still used (if only I could do them correctly).

Originally Posted by Phil Hansen

I have never used a pull saw but see they are used exclusively in the videos.
For someone starting out are they easier to use?
If so will have to get one to try.

Phil

I had to make a cut in the kitchen bench top (2nd hand solid timber kitchen) and after reading about pullsaws and the superfine kerf, I bought one from "the green shed" it is Irwin brand and while not very fast (because of the small kerf?) it left a VERY smooth finish (and if we do ever extend the house the kitchen will be oriented as it was originally so the cut will go back together...) I was very impressed with how it cut and while it is a very different motion to get used to it is by no means difficult!
I would definitely recommend them! (and would love a "proper" Japanese Pull saw)

Sorry cant really recommend what to do for the kids as I am only beginning/playing-around myself!

cheers.

I do this pencil box with sliding lid with my year 7's. You do most of the cutting out but the students use a few tools to finish it off. Cut the timber to width and then cut a channel about 5mm in from the edge for the lid to slide into. I use 12mm pine for sides/end and 3mm ply for the lid and base.

I use butt joints with glue and nails (use drill press for pilot holes) to attach the sides but you change that to a rebate depending on the student skill. They use the plane to shave one end down for the lid to slide in.

It's a good project to teach basic marking out and how to use some tools.

Originally Posted by lewisc

I do this pencil box with sliding lid with my year 7's. You do most of the cutting out but the students use a few tools to finish it off. Cut the timber to width and then cut a channel about 5mm in from the edge for the lid to slide into. I use 12mm pine for sides/end and 3mm ply for the lid and base.

I use butt joints with glue and nails (use drill press for pilot holes) to attach the sides but you change that to a rebate depending on the student skill. They use the plane to shave one end down for the lid to slide in.

It's a good project to teach basic marking out and how to use some tools.

Another useful project.

I made one for my son about 15 years ago thinking that he would use it in primary/secondary school. No such luck. Now that he is at university it is in daily use and I have had to rebuild one end after it fell off.

If using butt joins, a couple of counter sunk screws will not only strength it, but introduce another type of fastener that can be done with hand tools.

I still have some of the stuff I made at school, pencil box made from red deal, teapot stand is somewhere at the bottom of a crate and I'm pretty sure a clothes horse is still at my mother's place. These are from nearly sixty years ago and yes my mother is very old.
Two lessons stand out - keep your hand behind the sharp edges and don't hit a chisel with the palm of your hand unless you're really keen on tendon damage.
Perhaps a mallet and bench hook would be a start as well as something to carry tools in.
Anyway, good luck.

Something simple is best to start with as mention above.