So, two months ago I was asked to give a demo so to speak, of my woodworking shop. It's for my son's daycare - he isn't part of the group as he is to young, but there will be 30 odd kids between the ages of 4 and 8 years old coming in the morning for 1 1/2 hours.
They have field trips to various places and the daycare (which is really well run, and more like a school than just a daycare) wants to show them what a woodworking shop is all about!
I have spent many hours in my head wondering what to do to give these youngsters some sort of relevant info, as well as keep their interest and not have anything too loud or messy.
I decided to cut out parts on my Buddy, to make a small box. The front has their individual names V carved on it, and the bottom, sides and front/back are keyed together for easy assembly. I will get them to lightly sand the edges, and then glue them together. They will paint them at the daycare, and they can use them to store their pencils/pens/crayons, etc.
I am also going to (with the help of the apprentice working with me) get them to try planing a little basswood, with a small hand plane - driling holes into a block of wood with a small hand drill and maybe driving a few screws. Maybe even try cutting some wood with one of my small tenon saws.
I hope they have fun! I know I will!
AJC