Crafting Legacy: Senior Seats & Benches

High School Grade Project 5 weeks

Crafting Legacy: Senior Seats & Benches

David L

Collaboration

Content Expertise

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Effective Communication

Academic Mindset

+ 1 more

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Purpose

Create a tangible contribution to your school community by designing and constructing a meaningful woodworking project. Collaborate with peers to determine the most beneficial structure—such as a senior chair or benches for the north lawn—offering much-needed seating and fostering school spirit. Use this opportunity to master woodworking techniques, improve your project management skills, and reflect community values, all while involving community partners in the process.

Learning goals

Design and collaboratively build a functional woodworking project, like a senior chair or bench, that addresses a real community need within the school. Engage fully in the woodworking process, following detailed instructions to develop craftsmanship skills and content expertise. Apply critical thinking to explore, propose, and refine innovative solutions, while communicating progress effectively through photos, videos, and presentations. Reflect on your learning journey through weekly feedback sessions, incorporating suggestions to improve the project's outcome.

Competencies

Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.
Content Expertise - Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.
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.
Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.
Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.

Products

Collaborate with Mr. Wyatt or Mr. Poole to design and construct a senior chair or benches for the north lawn, integrating woodworking craftsmanship and instruction-following skills. Document your progress with photos and a detailed video showcasing your techniques and decision-making process. Engage in regular critique and revision sessions during weekly meetings to refine your product and incorporate feedback. Conclude the project by presenting your final product, highlighting both the physical craftsmanship and the positive impact it will have on the school community.

Launch

Begin your woodworking project with a dynamic workshop led by Mr. Wyatt or Mr. Poole. Explore different woodworking techniques and safety protocols through hands-on activities. Collaborate with your peers in small groups to brainstorm innovative furniture designs for the senior chair or benches. Conclude the workshop with a discussion on how these creations will meet the needs of the school community.

Exhibition

Organize a woodworking showcase where you can present your completed senior chair or benches to the school community. Share a video documentary of your project journey, highlighting your craftsmanship and the problem-solving strategies you employed. Facilitate a gallery walk for peers, teachers, and community members to provide feedback on your work. Integrate a signing ceremony for the chair if chosen, or an inaugural unveiling of the benches, involving classmates and community partners to emphasize the impact of your contribution.

Rubric

Competency Progression Rubric Competency-first rubric

Category	Learning Goal	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3	Stage 4
Deeper Learning Competencies	Collaboration	I can effectively collaborate with my peers by actively participating in forming project groups, openly sharing my ideas and design goals, and making shared decisions that consider everyone's interests.	I can work with my peers to initiate and complete shared woodworking tasks, making sure I listen to others' ideas and contribute my own I participate in group discussions and help find solutions when we face challenges I show that I can make decisions together with my team and seek feedback from my peers and mentors like Mr Wyatt or Mr Poole to improve our project.	I can effectively co-design projects with my peers, showing active participation in decision-making and contributing ideas that strengthen our work I demonstrate leadership by facilitating group discussions and helping resolve conflicts, ensuring that every team member feels heard and valued in the woodworking project creation.	I can effectively collaborate with my peers and community partners, actively participate in shared decision-making, and demonstrate leadership skills by integrating diverse ideas and resolving conflicts to create a meaningful woodworking project that enhances our school's environment.
Deeper Learning Competencies	Content Expertise	I can explore and practice basic woodworking techniques by participating in demonstrations and experimenting with different tools and styles I follow detailed instructions with guidance, using input from peers and community partners to complete simple parts of the project with support.	I can apply woodworking techniques to create a chair or bench with some guidance and instruction I am able to demonstrate basic skills in using woodworking tools safely and accurately, and I can explain my design choices, taking into account the needs of the school.
Deeper Learning Competencies	Critical Thinking & Problem Solving				I can explore and choose innovative solutions to woodworking challenges by experimenting with different tools and techniques I solve complex problems by considering various design options and their impact on the community, making thoughtful decisions that enhance the school environment.
Deeper Learning Competencies	Effective Communication	I can confidently share my woodworking project by presenting a clear and organized video and photo documentation that explains my design choices, techniques, and the steps I took to create my senior chair or benches I engage in meaningful discussions with my peers, teachers, and community partners during the exhibition to effectively communicate my project's impact on the school community.
Deeper Learning Competencies	Academic Mindset			I can confidently connect my woodworking project to the school community by creating a chair or benches that reflect my personal identity and contribute positively to the communal space Through this process, I deepen my understanding of craftsmanship and enhance my sense of belonging, showcasing my ability to critically reflect on and communicate the impact of my work.
Deeper Learning Competencies	Self Directed Learning	I can independently set goals for my woodworking project and, with guidance, adjust my strategies based on peer and mentor feedback I can regularly document my progress through photos and videos, using these reflections to guide my next steps in the project.	I can use feedback from my peers and community mentors like Mr Wyatt or Mr Poole to make improvements to my woodworking project I recognize areas where I need to enhance my techniques and apply suggestions to refine my design I regularly document my progress with photos and videos, showing how I adjust and improve my skills throughout the project.

Learning Journey

Empathize

You will engage with peers, teachers, and potential users to conduct interviews and surveys, observe the areas around the school needing seating, and gather insights on design preferences to ensure your woodworking project addresses community needs effectively.

Days 1 - 3