The cost of these basically 5 sets of various handtools for voc-ed is $587, including shipping and <a target="new" href="http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm" onclick="g_openWindow('http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm', 300, 800, 'fulfillwindow');return false;">fulfillment</a>.
I will teach 6th grade at a new middle school campus this year. As a part of the 6th grade middle school experience, students take part in an Exploratory Wheel class. For the Exploratory Wheel class, I will teach an introduction to vocational arts. This will be a kind of "pre" woodshop, home ec, engineering class in which students will use simple handtools to build a small woodworking project, hand sewing to create a patchwork pillow, and various media to create simple engineering projects.
In this class students will have a chance to develop fine motor skills and life skills by working with various kinds of hand tools that they will encounter in everyday life. They will have a chance to be introduced to vocational arts. For many students in this highly academically-oriented school population, this might be one of the only opportunities they will have to work with their hands to problem solve. Others, for whom academics has been a struggle, may find a whole new way to connect to school and learning.
To complete these projects, the class of approx. 20-25 students will be in groups of four. Each group will need a hand saw and miter box, sanding block, hammer, cordless electric drill and drill bits, rasp, pliers, assorted sewing needles, sewing shears, measuring tapes, small/fine paint brushes.
I believe that practical, vocational arts experiences are fast nearing extinction and that all students benefit from the practical knowlege and lessons these kind of opportunities offer.
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