My school spends a lot of time, energy and financial resources on project-based learning. In my experience, teachers use project-based learning as a catch-all term for anything from make-it-take-it projects which last twenty minutes to inquiry-driven, rubric-graded, long-term explorations. Calling the former project-based learning is lazy and misdirection. Creating incredible experiences for students with theContinue reading “This Week in the Classroom: Pantographs”
Category Archives: This Week In the Classroom
Community Watch: Houston Mini-Maker Faire
On Jan. 19th, I had the chance to attend and participate in Houston’s first annual Mini-Maker Faire. I brought 8 students, 3 fellow teachers (or maybe Ms. J brought me), a woodworking bench, my traveling chest of hand tools and a whole lot of salvaged pine. Maker Faire brings together families and individuals to celebrateContinue reading “Community Watch: Houston Mini-Maker Faire”
This Week in the Classroom: Rulers & Frames
Applied Math Made Easy, a hands-on, application-heavy curriculum designed by a pair of teachers from Wisconsin, has a number of great math labs and activities. Using worksheets to convey directions and learning, the curriculum utilizes a conversationalist tone and “interactive reading” (their term, not mine) to let students learn middle school to high school level mathematicsContinue reading “This Week in the Classroom: Rulers & Frames”
Community Watch: It’s Build a Box Day!
Today at TX/RX Labs, I’ll be leading a class in building a few of these tea boxes. I’m sending a box to one random contestant on WoodshopCowboy Facebook page, just in time for Christmas. Remember to like WoodshopCowboy on Facebook! And remember: Make it safe & keep the rubber side down this weekend.
This Week In the Classroom: Sketch Up Projects at the Middle School Level
In support of my Mathematics and Technology and Computer Applications: CAD courses, I’ve offered a number of Sketch Up projects for students to complete. In Mathematics and Technology, my students created eukaryotic animal cells while in Computer Applications the students created square, triangle and hexagon – based tessellations and designs. Two resources I used heavily in theContinue reading “This Week In the Classroom: Sketch Up Projects at the Middle School Level”
This Week in the Classroom: Try Squares
My new “little” project obsession: try squares. These guys mark boards square. That’s it. All they do. The try, not tri, comes from the act of “trying” an angle to see if it’s square, not three, or tri. This slideshow punctuated by a few of my favorite song titles, puns and lyrics in noContinue reading “This Week in the Classroom: Try Squares”
This Week in the Shop: Make Monopods
A quick and easy project to help you photograph or film outdoors. This won’t solve all your problems, nor is it any good as a walking stick…but your filming becomes steadier. Just another filming rig I’ve put together for my documentary class. First published in Make Magazine. Make it (get it?) safe & keep theContinue reading “This Week in the Shop: Make Monopods”
This Week in the Classroom: Gottshall Block Project
I’ve heard before from others in the “making” or woodworking communities I’m a little behind the times. I make cigar box guitars when they were totally two years ago. Or I teach developmental woodworking in manner more suited to a different century. So of course, I discover a sweet little hand tool project about aContinue reading “This Week in the Classroom: Gottshall Block Project”
This Week in the Classroom (and the shop): Time Lapse Photography or Filming Rigs
In my second period this semester, I’m moonlighting as a video producer. I don’t get to do any fancy music videos or full-feature movies, but I do get to make a documentary. We’ve got the backdrop ordered, the lights rigged up and a the interview stool picked out. I even have a low-slung directors chairContinue reading “This Week in the Classroom (and the shop): Time Lapse Photography or Filming Rigs”
This Week in the Classroom: The Poor Man’s Tripod (For Taking Panoramic Outdoor Pictures)
My school is undergoing a little bit of construction…and by a little bit, I mean a cool of five mil of construction. We just needed a little documentation of the facts. I’m going to use this photography stand (and yes, I walked around with my shirt like that all day)… I put a 1/4 coarseContinue reading “This Week in the Classroom: The Poor Man’s Tripod (For Taking Panoramic Outdoor Pictures)”
WSC Designs 