Spinozzi's Woodshop · Unit 1Week 1Mon, Nov 2 to Sun, Nov 8
Track B: a daily sprint. Dates are suggestions. Sessions keep their order.
Stop 1: Welcome to the Woodshop
15 to 20 minutesLesson. Tell someone about the crew.
Gather
Nothing
Set up
Print the Meet the Crew cards, if you use them. Prep: 5 minutes.
Hands-on cards
- Level 1: Tell someone about the crew (about 5 minutes)
Printable 1: Meet the Crew cards; Printable 4: Try It at Home cards
What to watch
- The kid names the six builders and what each one does.
Stop 2: What Is Woodworking?
25 to 30 minutesLesson. Wood Hunt.
Gather
Nothing
Set up
Pick one wooden chair, stool or drawer that's easy to look under. Prep: 5 minutes.
Hands-on cards
- Level 1: Go on a Wood Hunt (about 10 to 15 minutes)
Printable 4: Try It at Home cards; Printable 5: My hunt log
What to watch
- The kid says what woodworking is, and shows where a wooden thing's pieces join.
Safety rows
| Tool or material | Who is beside the kid | Check first | The adult does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wooden things at home (the Wood Hunt) | A parent or teacher, for the look underneath | Nothing is taken apart | Turns a chair or table over if needed |
Stop 3: The Trades and the People Who Do Them
20 to 25 minutesLesson. Trade Spotting.
Gather
Nothing
Set up
Print the Who Do You Call? cards, if you use them. Prep: 5 minutes.
Hands-on cards
- Level 1: Go Trade Spotting (about 10 minutes)
Printable 4: Try It at Home cards; Printable 5: My hunt log; Printable 6: Who Do You Call? match cards
What to watch
- The kid matches a fix at home to the trade that does it.
Safety rows
| Tool or material | Who is beside the kid | Check first | The adult does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pipes, light switches and doors (Trade Spotting) | A parent or teacher nearby | Look, but don't touch | Points out where things are |
Stop 4: The Defining Skill: Problem-Solving
20 to 25 minutesLesson. Fix-It Hunt. Gather the boxes and the things on the build card.
Gather
An empty box for next time
Set up
Print the Four Steps card. Remind families to save a box. Prep: 5 minutes.
Hands-on cards
- Level 1: Go on a Fix-It Hunt (about 10 minutes)
Printable 2: The Four Steps card; Printable 4: Try It at Home cards; Printable 5: My hunt log
What to watch
- The kid says the four steps in order: Think, Plan, Build, Test.
- The kid finds the real problem before talking about a fix.
Safety rows
| Tool or material | Who is beside the kid | Check first | The adult does |
|---|---|---|---|
| A small problem at home (the Fix-It Hunt) | A parent or teacher | The kid tells the plan; nobody fixes it alone | Listens to the plan and decides what happens next |
Capstone: The Birdhouse Design Challenge
45 to 60 minutesFirst sitting and the build. Think, Plan (the checklist and the drawing), the cut question, the build card. Build.
Gather
An empty cereal box or any small box, thin cardboard, tape, kid scissors if you say yes, a pencil or a straw, dry cereal, crayons or markers, paper and a pencil
Set up
Decide about cutting. Read "Can I cut today?" Print Mia's checklist, the plan sheet and the build card. Prep: 10 to 15 minutes.
Hands-on cards
- Level 1: Draw your build plan (about 10 to 15 minutes)
- Level 2: Build your birdhouse (20 to 40 minutes)
Printable 2: The Four Steps card; Printable 7: Mia's birdhouse checklist; Printable 8: My birdhouse build plan; Printable 9: Can I cut today?; Printable 10: Birdhouse build card; Printable 13: My Problem Solver rubric; Printable 15: Problem Solver certificate
What to watch
- The kid makes a plan before building: a checklist, and a drawing with labels.
- The kid follows a build card's steps in order, or draws the build.
- The kid checks a build against the checklist, honestly, and names one change.
Safety rows
| Tool or material | Who is beside the kid | Check first | The adult does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardboard box and thin card | A parent or teacher | Thin card for the kid; anything thick is the adult's to cut | Cuts anything thick |
| Kid scissors | A parent or teacher decides, every time | The yes, then Mia's three rules | Decides; starts the round door; cuts anything thick; or does all the cutting |
| Tape | Anyone | ||
| Pencil or straw (the perch) | Anyone | ||
| Dry cereal (pretend seed) | A parent or teacher | Any dry cereal from home | In a class, checks for food allergies first |
Notes