Chop Chop: Board Building Bonanza

9th, 10th, 11th, 12th Grades Project 6 weeks

Chop Chop: Board Building Bonanza

PATRICK J

Effective Communication

Collaboration

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Content Expertise

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Purpose

The purpose of this learning experience is to immerse students in the hands-on process of transforming rough lumber into high-quality cutting boards, enhancing their technical skills and creative expression. Students actively engage in crafting their designs while operating woodworking tools, fostering problem-solving and collaboration. This project facilitates reflection on essential techniques and allows students to showcase their craftsmanship, reinforcing content expertise in an authentic and practical setting.

Learning goals

Students will master the safe, skillful operation of key woodworking tools and machinery, reflecting critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. They will actively participate in collaborative design processes, engaging with peers while effectively communicating about their experiences and insights. Students will develop content expertise in woodworking techniques and wood species, culminating in the creation of a high-quality cutting board that showcases their personal design choices. By the end of the project, students will reflect on their growth, articulate learned concepts, and present their finished products to an audience of peers, friends, and family.

Competencies

Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.
Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
Content Expertise - Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.

Products

Students will transform rough lumber into a personalized cutting board, engaging in a comprehensive, hands-on woodworking process. They will produce detailed design layouts and parts lists, using their understanding of measurements and materials. By project completion, students will present their finished cutting board, articulating their applied techniques, creative decisions, and safety practices. Their craftsmanship will also be showcased during exhibitions and family nights, demonstrating the culmination of their learning journey.

Launch

Begin the project with an engaging hands-on activity where students collaboratively explore different types of lumber and practice safety skills using the four main woodworking machines in a supervised workshop. Have students design and draw their individual cutting board layouts, ensuring each layout incorporates their personal creativity while adhering to technical requirements. This initial session will ground students in essential skills and ignite their enthusiasm as they begin the process of crafting their personalized cutting boards.

Exhibition

The completed cutting boards will be showcased in a classroom exhibition open to fellow students, where practical skills and craftsmanship are at the forefront. During a family night, students will present their projects, demonstrating their hands-on experiences and explaining their technical skills and design choices to friends and family. Demonstrating the use of woodworking tools and machinery in the construction room will highlight each student's journey from raw materials to finished product, emphasizing their practical learning process.

Learning Journey

Empathize

Students will visit the Frank Paxton Lumber Company to learn about different wood species and cuts through a tour, followed by collaborative discussions with peers to explore how these insights connect to their cutting board designs, all while developing critical communication skills as they share and understand various perspectives.

Days 1 - 5

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Define

Students will develop a clear problem statement by analyzing their initial designs, participating in group discussions to identify opportunities for aesthetic enhancement and technical improvement, and consulting with community partners to deepen their understanding of materials and processes.

Days 6 - 10

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Ideate

Students will brainstorm a variety of design layouts for their cutting boards, experimenting with different combinations of maple and walnut to express personal creativity while considering aesthetic balance and woodworking constraints.

Days 11 - 16

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Test/Present

Students will present their completed cutting boards to a community exhibit, articulating their design process, reflecting on challenges faced and overcome, and demonstrating their mastery of woodworking techniques through interactive demonstrations and peer discussions.

Days 25 - 32

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Plan

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Chop Chop: Board Building Bonanza

Purpose

Learning goals

Competencies

Products

Launch

Exhibition

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