Lesson Idea | Elementary Woodworking: A Guide from the Creativity Lab by Maker Ed

About This Project

Kindergarten woodworking is a series of basic carpentry exercises designed to give young students the know-how to safely use sandpaper, files, hammers, screwdrivers, hot glue guns, drills, clamps, and saws. After an introduction to each tool, students will have the year to practice their crafts, and bring their imaginations to life. These exercises encourage creative and critical thinking, and facilitate agency at a young age.

This project is structured such that teachers provide minimal instruction, and students learn through the process of design, test, and redesign. It is encouraged that you customize this project to the needs of your class, but maintain the ideal of students learning through exploring.

The lessons were developed by Emily Smith and Robbie Torney at Lighthouse Community Charter School. This guide begins with an overview of kinder making at Lighthouse, then goes into depth for specific tools and activities.

Lighthouse Story

At Lighthouse, kinder making happens year-round within the classrooms themselves. Making happens once a week for roughly an hour, and students have the option of further making every afternoon during their free-choice time.

New tools are introduced during the first two quarters. Students have the opportunity to continue exploring these tools throughout the rest of the year.

Quarter 1 (8 Weeks)
● Wood
● Files
● Sandpaper
● Hammers
● Hot glue
● Saws

Quarter 2 (10 Weeks)
● Foam
● Screwdrivers
● Drills

At Lodestar, all elementary students participate in a quarter of woodworking in their Making, Art, & Design classes. They begin learning about the tools and techniques; the culminating project for the past year was a “speedform”, where students
brainstormed and designed a figure that was “speedy” to them.

Materials & Tools

Materials
• Scrap wood
• Assorted craft materials

Tools
• Safety glasses
• Work gloves
• Assorted files
• Sand paper Hammers
• Roofing nails Screwdrivers
• Screws
• Small drills
• Hand saws
• Miter boxes
• Clamps
• Hot glue & glue guns (low temp)

Learning Targets

• I can look closely.
• I can explore complexity.
• I can use tools safely and correctly I can be strategic in my project planning.
• I can produce prototypes of potential design solutions.

For further information about the lesson idea, please visit Maker Ed website.