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In a couple of weeks I need to run a thing at Scouts where they'll do some basic woodwork type skills, ideally with something to show for it at the end.
Thing is, they'll have about half an hour from start to finish, including me explaining stuff, so it need to be pretty simple.
My current idea is a key rack, so they can cut a piece of wood to length, sand down the edges/corners, mark and drill pilot hole for the hooks etc. Can anyone suggest anything else?
phone stand, to hold your phone at a sensible angle, with space for a charge lead?
https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=Wooden+phone+stand
coudl easily customize it to include space for you penknife and woggle
How about a spatula? Pretty sure we made one in first year techy class.
These are easy and fun. Parents might appreciate them too.
The slow ones just drill a hole. The quicker ones can do the fancy finishing.
We did one where the kids make a door wedge with options for a dowel, leather strap or really big hole handle.
Also done candle holders (cut wood to size, drill hole with forstner to take tea light). This one works well when you have scrap to use up as shape and size is really up to them.
Pencil holder - like a candle holder but with smaller holes!
Phone/tablet stand - either grooved or with dowel pegs.
Thing is, they’ll have about half an hour from start to finish, including me explaining stuff, so it need to be pretty simple.
I think you'll be pushing it to get multiple 10/11 year olds who have have never worked a saw or drill to safely do even your key rack in the time you have. You are going to take 1/2 the time just explaining what to do! I'm guessing you don't have enough saws and workbenches/vices to do them all simultaneously either?
Possibly something like a birdhouse. Its not really technical and only needs screwed together from flat board material like plywood, Hole drilled as entry(Forstner bit) and a hole and dowel for the entry perch. Some paint for individualism.
If its for a badge it could count towards a wildlife badge too.
Those open air nests must be pretty chilly in winter 😕
TIP
There was a post on a woodworking forum yonks ago suggested pull saws were better for kid sized hands, and the pull stroke easier to master as push can have a habit of sticking in the cut.
I think you’ll be pushing it to get multiple 10/11 year olds who have have never worked a saw or drill to safely do even your key rack in the time you have.
I agree. Could you precut some pieces of balsa for a dinosaur or biplane assembly project? Just need a bit of glue then. Could leave them to cut/finish one or two pieces?
I think you’ll be pushing it to get multiple 10/11 year olds who have have never worked a saw or drill to safely do even your key rack in the time you have.
Yeah, to be fair I was thinking I'd probably precut the lengths, so whilst each is using the drill the rest can be sanding/decorating the wood. And when I've done similar in the past they drilled a hole or two each, and I've drilled the rest. Plus, if they don't quite finish they can take the bits and finish it at home if they want.
Quite like the idea of a phone stand though, given that they're obsessed with them...
Bat box is a bit easier than birdbox just a back plate, sides front and roof. Still tight on time though. Make a simple plan for them to follow, practice the skills on one piece and get them to bring the results in next week?
Wiggly fish.
Pre-cut sections of fish body, glued together sandwiching some fabric.
Paint the eyes and stuff.
Sorta like this.
Make a square base and mount the fish on a bit of coat hanger.
Who doesn't enjoy a wiggly fish?
Nobody, that's who.
How many kids and when? Since it's scouts can they work together to make something as a team? Could easily do a pallet Christmas tree in that time - bit of cutting, bit of nailing, bit of decorating, job done.
Maybe think bigger - about something that the group can make together in a short time rather than lots of little things
Enzo Mari's book Autoprogettazione is a range of furniture designs that can be made from construction timber, a hammer and a saw, and doesnt require any accurate joint cutting
a bit of prep before hand (the plans are based around repetitive use of a few simple component) you could make something pretty substantial. The whole book appears to be here
guitarists foot rest
plenty of other styles and designs to pick from...
I made one a bit like this with a single central brace out of some cheap ol' pine and held together with wood screws.
A Pencil sharpener was the first thing we made in woodwork to teach us some principles- rectangle of pine, shaped a handle, squared the edges, drill a hole and thread a leather strip through, used pre-cut rectangles of sandpaper coarse and fine, glue one each side.
Flasher version of this:
a cricket bat
