Material on this page is copyright (c) 2016 Dan Harper
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Other Arts and Crafts include those types of handwork that don’t fit neatly into the other categories.
3-D Printing
Cooking
Toy Making
Ideas for projects:
A. Print medallions on a theme, which are then integrated into a wall-hanging
Ideas for projects:
A. Help prepare a meal for congregation
B. Baking treats
C. Baking bread
D. Outdoor cooking
Ideas for projects:
Kites
A. Pull-toys or wheeled toys
B. Toy boats
The toy boat design above comes from Jane L. Hoxie, Handwork for Kindergartens and Primary Schools (Springfield, Mass.: Milton Bradley, 1905), pp. 28-29. Hoxie was associated with the Ethical Culture School in New York City. I’ve adapted her instructions slightly:
On a nominal 1×4 in. (actual 3/4×3-1/2 in.) piece of pine lumber, mark out a 10 in. length (free of knots). Nominal 1/2 in. thick lumber is much easier for the children to saw, but usually it costs much more; if you can afford it, use it.
Using a square, draw straight lines across to mark out the length of the boat’s hull. But don’t cut the boat off the longer board yet — our children found it’s easier to clamp the work on the workbench for the next step, if you leave the boat attached to the longer board.
Starting at the end that’s already cut, measure in from the corners 1-1/4 in. on the ends, and 2-1/2 in. on the sides. If you want a really sharp pointy bow, measure in 1-3/4 in. on the ends at the bow, as shown on the full-size template below. Connect these points by straight lines. Starting with the bow, saw from each corner the right-angled scalene triangle thus marked off. At the other end, cut one of the corners out. Then cut the boat off the longer board. Now cut the other corner off.
At the bow end, bore a 5/16 in. hole 1-1/2 in. from the bow. Cut a piece of 5/16 in. dowel that’s 8 in. long, and stick it in the hole. (You can add a drop of waterproof wood glue if you want.) Cut out a sail from stiff paper, and glue it to the mast. You can use the template below, or make your own.
Finally, install the painter (that’s the rope at the bow of a boat). Drill a 1/4 in. hole near the bow. Tie a length of string through the hole. Now you’re ready to sail the boat. Actually, this boat doesn’t sail well, since it doesn’t have a keel, so you’ll probably wind up towing it along with the painter.