constructing the shapes of their money boxes with Primary 1 and 2

The pupils showed an interest in continuing to create the body structures of their money boxes using a variety of tools such as hand saw's and a bandsaw. One of the pupils, with staff support, had a go at working the mechanics of the bandsaw by using their foot to stop the machine and then lift their foot up for it to start as they worked together with a staff member to push the four pieces of wood for the shape of their money box slowly while they watched the thin blade cut around the lines. 

All of the pupils enjoyed using the tools as they took it in turns to use each hand and mechanic saw and helped each other by demonstrating what movements they would need to make to cut the wood for example; back and forward, and with staff support began to understand that pointing the saw to the floor makes you cut quicker.    

constructing Year 7A and 9's money boxes

The pupils showed an interest in using the material of wood to make their own box. The pupils listened to all safety instructions with how to use the variety of tools such as pointing the saw downwards as they cut the pieces of wood. The pupils understood that they needed to wear goggles and a apron when using the tools and at a what time for example; one pupil said "you wear the goggles when you are using the saw as it stops the dust from getting in your eyes". The pupils sat around in a group as they watched demonstrations of what equipment they would be using for the creation of their box and how they were going to achieve the final result. 

• The pupils worked individually or in pairs as they began to understand that the numbers on the ruler would match with the dimensions to how long the pieces of wood would need be and the length of width for the sides to complete the structure of the box. As a group the pupils identified, with staff support, the measurements of "20" cm long and "6" cm wide. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The pupils then had a go at measuring the lengths out by using a pencil and ruler and continued to look at a diagram of what sizes the sides of the boxes will be, this was drawn on a whiteboard. 
• The pupils identified that they would need "four sides" for their box as one pupil labelled each one with the words "bottom, side, other side and top". 
• After the pupils each took it in turns, or worked together, to use a saw to cut along or around the lines, with staff support, for each side. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Near the end of the lesson the teacher gathered the pupils around a cutting machine and explained that it was used for cutting smaller pieces of wood whilst showing them how to use the machine such as moving the wood slowly while it is cutting because if you do it quickly then the line for their sides would be jaggered and not straight. One of the pupils said "you have to put your foot on the red button for the machine to start and stop". As we were travelling back to school from RSS, I asked all pupils if they had enjoyed the lesson and what they liked the most. One pupil said "I liked using the saw but it was really hard to cut the wood", when another pupil said "I didn't like the saw it took ages to cut and afterwards my arm really hurt and was tired".

Year 10 Forest School

A quick impromptu lesson in the forest school area. 

The children learnt how to use an axe, chop wood safely, as well as how to dismantle pallets without breaking the wood.

They even repaired the tyre swing.

A good mornings work, WELL DONE!