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Woodworking Curriculum
From an early age children begin to express their will, by their insatiable desire to touch.
It is through their hands that they begin to develop these faculties. Accomplishment and joy are
the rewards achieved through the intelligence of each activity.
"To do, to be active, is Man's noblest calling."
-Goethe
The purposeful task performed with hand tools and wood parallel the intentional work and the
responsible laborers of the outside world. Artistic work helps in awakening the feeling and heart
forces; these give shape and personal character to the work at hand.
Woodworking begins in Grade V. In this grade students harvest wood from nature, and using
hand tools, bring it form and function. Students are introduced to botany and the properties
inherent in various woods. Their senses are awakened to many experiences: their hands begin to
develop strength; they notice exhaustion; the blood flow tints their cheeks; hand and eye coordination
improves with the repetition of movement; and technique is developed.
In the sixth grade the use of a ruler is introduced to create accurate measurements. The projects
are preconceived on paper and then fabricated methodically. By this process, the student can learn
to make that which he learns to conceive. During this year children are introduced to the history
of woodworking. They are assigned a research report accompanied by a presentation. All projects
throughout this year help prepare the way for geometry and perspective drawing in the seventh
grade.
In the seventh grade the adolescent student is looking more into themselves. They are studying the
Middle Ages, the renaissance period and the age of exploration. In this year the student's woodwork
projects have moveable parts. They are introduced to wood block printing: their printed
images are created by extracting light from dark. New math skills in proportions and geometry
are applied to the construction of a working moveable scaled down model.
In the eighth grade the students are more aware of their physical world and their personal appearance.
This year they are challenged by projects that are layered with detailed processes and problem
solving. Students increase their focus and continue to refine their accuracy, creativity, and
most of all, patience. This year's work helps develop endurance and confidence in preparation for
high school.
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