Woodshop
Students in all grades pursue projects of their own choosing. This open curriculum
is designed to motivate students while promoting creativity and independence in
the Woodshop. In their early years students are taught to safely use the most basic
tools, such as the sanding block, hand drill, hammer, coping saw and rasp. Over
the years, as students' skills improve, and as their projects become more complex,
they are taught more sophisticated techniques using the same basic hand tools. In
fifth and sixth grade, additional hand tools, such as gouges and pull saws, are
introduced, as is the drill press. Students in the Unit may use the band saw, scroll
saw and sabre saw when necessary, but only with close supervision. When a student
is interested in a project that is technically beyond his or her skill level, the
teacher and student work together to refine the idea to a point where it is feasible
for that student to approach.
The goals of the Woodshop program are for students to:
- learn the safe and proper use of hand tools, and build upon these skills over time;
- understand the properties of wood (and a variety of other available materials) and
how these properties are important when planning and carrying out a project;
- become aware of the visual and formal considerations that go into the design of a
project, and, over time, to become more and more comfortable making such design
decisions.
The underlying objectives of the Woodshop program are to:
- promote creativity by expanding the typical definition of "woodshop" and make it
available as a laboratory for exploring materials and ideas;
- encourage students to think in original ways about materials, valuing the process
of creating, as well as the product made;
- empower students as designers and builders;
- encourage thoughtful decision-making;
- foster confidence as students plan and carry a project through to completion;
- promote cooperation as students work together.