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Traditional Wooden Toys
St.Benedicts Junior School, Ealing, London
Submitted by: Miss Jan Mckenzie - DT Co-Ordinator
ReceptionWhole Class ProjectResistant MaterialsEngineering
KS1Individual ProjectGraphicsCADCAM
KS2Short TaskFoodCatering
KS3Research and InvestigationTextilesFashion
KS4Enterprise activityICTElectronics
Post 16Product AnalysisSystems and ControlStructures
Embedding ICT in DT   

Lesson Context
Make a toy using traditional methods of construction in wood. Yr.3-Yr.6 worked on own projects in after school hobby club, using tools and materials that are new to them.

Resources Needed
paper, selotape
balsa/ply/MDF/pine wood
different types of saws
cutting clamps,vices, G.clamp, drill, sandpaper,
woodsatin
edging/iron
nails, ball-bearing
file, ruler
aprons/dust mask
first aid kit

Teacher Preparation
Products for pupils to analysis construction
Purchase products
Set up vices
Discuss/demo safe use of tools/equipment
Teacher can make one to foresee areas that pupils may have problems

Project Brief
7 sessions after school to reproduce a traditional wooden toy using tools that are they have had little experience of.

Design and Manufacture
1. Analyse existing products,deconstruct
2. Make paper model
3. Make templates for cutting final design
4. Cut wood base,then components, finish edges
5. Tack componets into position
6. Stain, varnish

Expected Outcomes
All pupils will produce an individual toy to their own spec/design

Image
Bagatelle & Maze Toy

Differentiation
Some pupils need more help with using tools due to inexperience, esp. with cutting ply
Assistance using iron to attach edging, tighten vice etc.
Some pupils had to alter and adapt designs as more complicated on paper

Classroom Organisation
Kept cutting to one table, different ages helped each other
Ventilation for stain, dust

Additional Information
Good way of using wood offcuts
Pupils found cutting ply difficult as it splintered if not enough care was taken to position in vice.
Ratio of pupil/teacher was kept to minimum for supervision of using saws.
Couple of plasters needed - Make first aid kit available
Pupils tended to rush sanding

More examples of traditional wooden toys (JPEG image)