We Know The Drill!

Jabari uses his strength and endurance to drill through to the other side.

TODAY'S ACTIVITY
We learned about the safe usage of a drill. A real HAND DRILL, not a power drill. Using hand tools is far safer since they "stop when they drop" and they only go as fast as the person using them. As always, SAFETY FIRST. After donning our protective eye goggles, we proceed:

1) Secure the wood tightly in a vice or on a sturdy surface with at least two C-clamps.
2) Mark the location of your hole with a tap on a center punch. We practiced hand-eye acuity with crossed lines drawn in place.
3) After making sure your drill bit is secure, place the cutting tip in the punched indentation.
4) Hold the drill straight and crank the handle. If it seems to get stuck, just crank backward and forward again. Continue until the drill goes through the other side. Continue cranking as you remove the drill to clean the hole and minimize splinters.

Luca drills pilot holes for our class project. I wonder what it will be?

Our young carpenters were enthusiastic and very careful to the point of encouraging and reminding one another to, "Keep it straight! It's easier that way!"

It is so important that children get to practice use of REAL TOOLS. The disposable junk they sell in most toy stores only encourages careless handling since it doesn't really work to begin with. Besides, most are only compatible with whatever specialized $65 set of plastic choke-ables it came with.

I found ours at Cliff's Variety Store on Castro Street for $15. That's about the same you'd have to pay for a crummy piece of plastic at a toy store that doesn't even make real holes. This one is made by Fiskars (Scissors Co.) and works like a charm for light duty. Just make sure you have safety goggles and a very clearly designated wood supply and work area.


TODAY'S STORY
By popular demand, with the emphasis on DEMAND, our class wanted to hear Burger Boy, by Alan Durant and Mei Matsuoka. The illustrations are welcoming, the story funny to them. They all sat there smiling as Usha read this absurd tale to them.

This book has really captured the imagination of our class. We love food. This week, we had two lunches they had never had before at school. Many begin by declaring that they don't like something, only to try it and devour two or three helpings.

As teachers and adults, we model that trying new things (especially food!) is what life is all about. Modeling these choices, particularly with healthy food that is recognizable, encourages a healthy body and healthy attitude for living.

I'm still lobbying for gelato on the afternoon snack menu...RECIPE BOOK!