Vicky Hart
Nursery and Primary Education
Woodworking helps children develop a relationship with natural materials, fostering respect and care for the environment. It encourages patience, focus and mindfulness as it requires slow deliberate movements and attention to detail.
At Sa Llavor whittling is introduced in year 3. It begins with simple whittling projects that gradually become more complex and elaborate. The lessons provide a wonderful hands-on experience, and are a fantastic example of experiential learning, connecting children with practical, artistic skills.
Our projects this term:
PROJECT 1: WHIMSICAL GARDEN GNOMES
We began our whimsical woodworking project by designing and making our very own garden gnomes. Our plan was to begin with foraged branches of natural wood, sourced locally on our excursions or in our own garden. From then, begin to understand which wood worked best (hard/soft, green/dry) and have the students draw their own conclusions about what worked and what did not.
The challenge: Begin to understand 3 dimensional space, positive and negative space and how to remove material to create form.
The basics: We all started with a pointy hat, nose, beard and eyes idea but each gnome created, quickly took on a life and character of its own.
PROJECT 2: MAGICAL POWER WANDS
Our second project sought to provide further opportunity to perfect our new found skills as “whittling experts”. Once again taking natural branches as our starting point; the project was to design and create a unique magic wand and include as many additional design features and decorative sections, as possible. While we didn’t choose actual unicorn hair, or dragon scales, we did choose each knot, bend and groove to give our wand it´s own unique character. Using knots in the wood, adding beads, etc Working with the wood (not against it).
Some students even added their own crystals for added “POWER”.
PROJECT 3: CREATE A SMALL BUTTER KNIFE
Some students moved onto making their own knives, with patterns and features of their own creation.
