My son has very strong feelings about woodworking show hosts. “Herm” (Norm) is his favorite – he’s in love with power tools. Me? I prefer St. Roy. In this episode, St. Roy discussed and built several toys from 18th century America. I was especially fascinated by the jig he uses to create small parts. IContinue reading “Toy Making Jigs”
Tag Archives: Teaching
Physics Carriages
In my MWF fourth period class, my students have been discovering and elaborating on the scientific method. I chose cars & ramps (aka pinewood derby car) as an opening project. We spent two weeks learning the different parts of the scientific method and how to measure our results. We create reports (I’m on my fourthContinue reading “Physics Carriages”
The Google Sketch Up Lab
This year, I’ve been working closely with another colleague to create, a project-based CAD course. When I was presented with the challenge, I dove in head first. This week I have been presenting various perspective/drawing challenges to my students in an effort to assess their current capabilities. I’ve been enjoying a curriculum challenge, and afterContinue reading “The Google Sketch Up Lab”
(Re-)Planting Salt Marsh Grass: Galveston Bay Foundation
In Feburary, fifteen of my students ripped up some two-hundred salt marsh grass stalks. After a few months of careful husbandry, we re-planted the stalks in the middle of Trinity Bay. I’ll let the Galveston Bay Foundation take it from here… We got muddy and wet and smiles on our faces. Replanting the salt grassContinue reading “(Re-)Planting Salt Marsh Grass: Galveston Bay Foundation”
Current Projects: The Butterfly Chair
One of my woodshop classes have ended for the week, so I took the opportunity to document the progress: And this is what happens when a student ticks me off! (ok, ok, I was pulling a big nail with a small hammer…)
This Week in the Shop: The Cajon Drum
This week, I prepped for this summer’s woodshop classes. The students will be building these benches, mending and designing chairs and constructing Cajon drums. I’ve secured enough lumber for the benches, pulling plywood chair designs from various sources and built this example project. Look to the above link for construction details. I finished the sidesContinue reading “This Week in the Shop: The Cajon Drum”
(School) Year in Review: Art Car 2011
As I gear up for summer program, I will be taking a little time to reflect on my past year. My bosses at work have kept me on as a teacher, although I smell the terrifying and exciting smell of change in the air. On May 22nd, my students (and I) participated in the 2011Continue reading “(School) Year in Review: Art Car 2011”
This Week In The Shop: Jewelry Box
One of my MasterClass students finished a jewelry box just in time for Mother’s Day. He’s been working for close to three months on it. We began with a design consultation, in which we researched various box designs on the web. I want to give a big thank-you to Andy, an extremely talented and generous woodworkerContinue reading “This Week In The Shop: Jewelry Box”
Bookshelf in Mission Style
This bookshelf recently left the workshop at school. The bookshelf started life as an illustration in The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mission Furniture, by H. H. Windsor, otherwise known as the good fellows at Popular Mechanics. Which the student modified to suit the schools current needs. The CAD mock-up looked like this: In the end,Continue reading “Bookshelf in Mission Style”
The Things they Carried (Cool Tools Everyday Carry Contest)
Kevin Kelly, editor of Wired magizine, runs an interesting blog on Cool Tools. He recently held a contest looking for tools which are carried everyday. This year, I’ve been refining my tool belt to carry the tools that make my job run. So let’s start, shall we? From right to left: Canvas Tool Pouch: It’sContinue reading “The Things they Carried (Cool Tools Everyday Carry Contest)”
WSC Designs 