Manual Arts ITD teacher looking for new projects / ideas

[maheel]

Hi all

I have been lurking for a while and thanks for the great site. :)
I teach Manual Arts / ITD in a QLD state high school yrs 7 -> 12.

I am sick of timber toys, boxes, and the normal projects students do and am looking for interesting ideas (and hopefully some free plans).
Some current projects are the legacy of past teachers, I am "new" so starting to change the program for the better....

I prefer for the projects to be useful and a bit dynamic / arty.

Current students are doing
Yr 7 doing a Timber WW2 fighter styled plane.
Yr 8 Just did a ply / pine pencil case and need another project ASAP :)
Yr 9 doing a laminated chess board and chess set, nougats and crosses on back and if time a coffee table display box where the chess board is the lid.
Yr 10 tray table where the legs and tray separated allowing you to take to kitchen then out to legs (french provincial alfresco style)
and sheet metal work "boxes" and tool carry all.
Yr 11 / 12 (combined) have done sheet metal toolbox (spot welder), some school use stage platforms, repairs on outdoor equipment and now some laminated breadboards / chess boards. EOY will be some doing welding (tig / mig) and brazing work.

I would appreciate some ideas / input to get some new ideas....
Links to pics etc anything really.

Biggest issue is budget.... needs to be low cost :(
I have a fair amount of 11 and 19 mm pine and some harder woods for the rest of the year.
I know how to stretch a budget a make every dollar count. :~

Next year thinking Cigar box guitars (new), chess boards, tray table, something new in sheet metal but looking for more ideas.


Cheers and thanks

[jaksam]

Not sure if it qualifies as "toys", but you could try some automata. There are some free plans on the internet (or PM me for the 2 or 3 I found). Marble runs could also be useful in solving problems of construction or combining elements to build a bigger run (Matthias Wandel on youtube has some videos - amongst a lot of other ideas on his channel)

Alternatively, mechanical action models based on the book "Making Mechanical Marvels in Wood" by Raymond Levy or "Making More Wooden Mechanical Models" by Alan and Gill Bridgewater may provide some ideas. The models in both books only use a small amount of wood, but require reasonable accuracy and a high wow factor when finished. The exercise could even be tied to some research on what the actions were used for in real life.

Occasionally, cheap slabs become available. A group project might be to take the slab and build multiple projects from the slab, with each student having to use a feature of the slab in a way that links back to the tree (eg. use a natural edge, defect or other feature) or maximise the use of the wood (using a combination of veneers and solid wood). Secondary woods could be used for non-visible parts.

What about simple tool making of either a handplane or marking gauge ? I have seen a few plans around the net and in magazines. Accurate working is required, and the skills of metal work and wood work could be used in combination. I think there was a recent article in Australian Wood Review on the making of a marking gauge (by one of the forum members - not sure ?)

My two cents worth. I'm sure others will have some other ideas.

Good luck !

[maheel]

Thanks Jacksam

Just did a Google up of Automata and found a nice marble run plan with cams, I reckon it's a winner :) as the unit calls for that criteria.

I have one of the books you mention and will have to revisit it.

I have found that making "tools" has not been a great project as not as many homes have workshops (or even basic tools) anymore and students often throw them in the bin. I see the value in the technical side but if it does not engage the student it's a grind to get them done.

The slab build is a good idea for the older students, they can see how each area of a slab (tree) can be used in a different way.
Sustainability and waste management is something we focus on... to many students don't see the total cost of materials.

I have had the 11/12's re-using re-purposing and recycling a lot of stuff on the school "repairs" as a way of looking at sustainability and trying to educate out of them the throw away society ideals we live in. They get "paid" in pizza for the work they do for the school and have loved the projects (or pizza?) It also gives them some ownership in the school and are less likely to damage the newly repaired equipment.

Next year I intend to do some "wow" factor hardwood and steel "architectural" outdoor benches out front of the workshop with them.

More ideas welcome :U

Many thanks

[Christos]

When I was at school I made a little stool which involved hand tools. Also made a bookcase and that involved using a router. A doggy door stop which was cut mainly using a coping saw. A bowl on the lathe.
Of course I can not remember which year I was in for the projects.

[wheelinround]

When I was at school I made a little stool which involved hand tools. Also made a bookcase and that involved using a router. A doggy door stop which was cut mainly using a coping saw. A bowl on the lathe.
Of course I can not remember which year I was in for the projects.


2011, 2012, 2013,2014

[The Bleeder]

Maheel,

When we did woodwork at school (a long time ago) our teacher had us a class participate in a group build.

This involved all years (woodwork was only done till year 10). We all did parts of a display/storage table for the school entrance (just outside the Headmasters office).

This display/storgae table was for showing photographs of the current school captians and vice captains and prefects.

The storage part was for keeping the previous years photographs.

It was a simple desigh but everyone that put someting into had immense pride in was was created.

BTW the Headmaster was rather chuffed of what we gave the school.

Back then we had some amazing timbers to work with (the town had about 8 or 9 sawmills).

[rrich]

Maheel,

Please check your private mail.