In my Applied Mathematics class, woodshop has put the shop in applied. During a unit on fractions, I asked students to build a number of these try squares, all different shapes and sizes. In order to assess my students ability to read a ruler and calculate fractions, I made all the dimensions wonky. No 8″Continue reading “Classroom Project: Try Squares”
Tag Archives: kids woodworking
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”
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 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”
Check Out the Shutter Table Project on Recyclart.org
Recyclart.org is a site dedicating to showing off recycled and salvaged projects from readers around the world. If you’ve followed WodoshopCowboy for a while, you know I make the most of the Houston ReUse Warehouse’s offerings. Here’s another shot at how my boys and I used louvered shutters and fence posts to create some pretty sweet littleContinue reading “Check Out the Shutter Table Project on Recyclart.org”
This Week in the Shop: Locomotive Bed
One of the neat challenges in designing furniture (and teaching) is the need to get outside yourself in the middle of a private act. I think putting oneself in another’s shoes, no matter the context, is one of the most civilizing things humans can do. Because before I was a father, before I was aContinue reading “This Week in the Shop: Locomotive Bed”
Sketch Up Model: Play Table with Simple Benches
I will use some 1/2″ plywood to put together this play table for my two sons this weekend. I’ve begun uploading a number of my project designs into Google 3D Warehouse…look for WoodshopCowboy! Make it safe & keep the rubber side down this weekend!
This Week in the Classroom: Block Printing & Stamps
As my students have become more competent with tools in the past few years (and cripes, does it feel weird to say years…) I’ve gotten the chance to think: what would be really cool to do next? What would be just flat out awesome? Here’s my answer: wood & lino prints designed by the student, for the students work.Continue reading “This Week in the Classroom: Block Printing & Stamps”
This Week in the Classroom: Swingin’ Chalkboard Signs
Here’s a few shots of a project build I did a few months ago. The challenge was to build a recycling container from completely recycled materials. I picked up some nice crepe myrtle branches and immediately saw a V shaped stand with a small basket to collect recyclable goods. To bad we never did finishContinue reading “This Week in the Classroom: Swingin’ Chalkboard Signs”
This Week in the Classroom: The Conversation Bench
Students with autism, people with neurological disorders and people with two eyes and ears and a brain often need a place to talk. For my students with autism, the act of conversation can be harrowing, heartwrenching and terrifying. On a good day. My students often must master sitting in one place, labeling the world withContinue reading “This Week in the Classroom: The Conversation Bench”
WSC Designs 