2-Dimensional Birdhouse Project

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     Our first 8th Grade Shop project is the 2-D Birdhouse. Students make all the parts they will need and then assemble them, creating a simple birdhouse which students then paint to their own specifications. I use this first paint job to launch a discussion of preservatives.
     The purposes of this project are: 1) reinforce measuring skills; and 2) learn how to properly mark and make cuts.  In a lesson titled "Saw Demontration" I model several types of of hand saws, saw safety, cutting technique, and how to secure work using a clamp.  Students then cut their pieces from 1X6 pine and sand everything smooth.
     We look at basic joining and applications of different types of nails and adhesives.  I make extra pieces which get broken when I show students why to pre-drill. If pieces lean one way or another after assembly, students can plainly see what happens when they don't cut straight.
     When we make our birdhouse roofs, students learn about angle cuts and how they differ from the straight cuts they've made before.  We look at some basic geometry, such as how the right triangle works, to determine where these angle cuts should be made.  Students may choose from three roof styles; the simplest leaves a gap which must be filled, usually with a decoration of some sort. The lapped style involves a bit more measuring and another cut, while the third option allows students to experiment with mitering.
     This project is an easy, simple activity during which students gain competence and confidence with tools, and skills that can be applied to many future situations.  The 2-D Birdhouse is completed around the end of October.  Students' grades are averaged with their Measure Treasure Hunt scores to determine First Quarter grades.
           -Mr. Reifler

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