It’s time for kids to get back to school, but before they do square away some time to have fun working on a few cool wood projects they can use in the classroom. It’s a fun way to get them into a learning mindset and work in a STEM lesson like the one TimberTown Austin recently hosted at the Helping Hand Home Academic Enrichment Summer Camp.
Make Your Own Stick Pencils
Most pencils are pretty standard and don’t have much wow-factor. But a stick pencil is a super neat twist on a classic that is sure to win your kid a few cool points from classmates and teachers. Even better is they are easy and inexpensive to make.
All you need is:
- A few found sticks
- A regular pencil or two
- Heavy-duty gloves
- Gardening shears
- Sandpaper
- Drill
- Glue
There are detailed stick pencil instructions on Instructables.com that will walk you through the process. Once you’ve made your stick pencil you can customize it by etching in your name, coloring it with markers or painting it. Just make sure the color source is non-toxic.
Build a Pencil Box
Need somewhere to put your new stick pencils? A pencil box is a simple project, but when it’s well done the craftsmanship shows. There are several styles of pencil boxes so the first step is deciding which type of box you want to make with your kid. A basic hinged box is easiest, but a sliding lid box is fun and a little more unique.
Using a finger joint method, all you need is wood, a table saw and a good adhesive to make a sturdy pencil box. Because a pencil box is modest in size, it is an affordable project even if you use a top-quality hardwood.
Stackable Storage Boxes for the Classroom
Storage always seems to be an issue in classrooms full of kids. Give your child’s teacher a smart storage option with stackable boxes. The key is building the boxes so that they interlock when stacked. You’ll also want to cut away handles at the top of the box so they are easy to grab.
Plywood can be used to keep the boxes lightweight so that they are easier to pick up and transport when they’re full of stuff. An instructional video by John Heisz provides an excellent step-by-step process for those that are equipped with woodworking equipment like a dado blade and drill press. If you don’t have a stock of specialty tools Instructables.com has instructions for building a simpler set of storage boxes.
Start your wood project off with a visit to TimberTown Austin. Our experts will help you and your kids select the perfect wood products for your project!
Image Source: Phoebe San Antonio, www.helpinghandhome.org
Original Source: Cool Back to School Wood Projects
