LONG: other crafts might help, too
VTAndy3
>Hi Jeremy,
I'm not a parent yet (about to become one in a month or so!) but I do teach at a school that uses an 85+ year curriculum with extensive handcrafts from kindergarten through grade 12. As a caveat, I'll add that I'm neither a handwork nor sculptural arts teacher (I'm in language arts), but as part of this school I've been able to observe the way that the curriculum helps students develop skills one step at a time. I'm certainly not an authority on this subject but am happy to share some general observations in the hope that they stimulate others to look into this more deeply. I hope that these comments aren't too "out of the blue."
The woodworking curriculum does not begin until grade 5 (approx age 11). Leading up to that, the fine motor skills are developed in other handcrafts, mostly with fiber, as well as in other areas, such as playing recorders (beginning in 1st grade). Students learn to finger-knit and shape beeswax in kindergarten. They felt wool, knit socks with four needles (in grade school), etc. before ever using edge tools to shape wood.
When the work with wood begins, it is usually with carving/shaping projects. At my school, in 5th grade, they shape cutting boards. By 7th grade, they have carved spoons and sometimes bowls. In 8th grade, they shape bows (which really shoot!). In 10th grade, they build small stools (meditation stools) that involve dovetails as well as M&T joinery, and sometimes they build small boxes or small shelf units. In 11th or 12th grade, they do finely carved woodblock prints and a furniture project, like a small side table.
All this is occuring alongside a curriculum that includes work with metal (9th grade: copper bells or small bowls; 11th grade: jewelry out of copper and silver), textiles (weaving, knitting, felting, sewing, spinning, carding, etc.), clay, and stone. There are also correlations between what is done in the arts and crafts with what is being learned in math, history, etc. Again, I don't teach these subjects, but I do observe the overwhelmingly positive effects of this curriculum on the students when I am teaching them my subjects (German, literature, and history in the high school). I would describe it as the education that I wish I had been given!!!
So I think that it might be possible that some work with other materials beyond wood -- in particular, at this early age: wool -- might also be helpful in developing some of the skills and senses that would contribute to a young craftsperson. At this early age, a good project to try might be making felted wood balls and eggs. (in a nutshell: made with carded wool and soapy water). Once the felted balls/eggs are dry, perhaps some embroidery: simple chain stitches on the eggs/balls. I think that both of these activities are fun for kids and adults, and they could very well contribute to a sense of material properties and fine motor skills. Of course, modeling beeswax is always fun, easy to come by, and a really forgiving material for young ones (also therapeutic for stressed-out grown-ups, by the way!). For many sectors of the population, knitting and crocheting might seem like "girls only" activities, but at my school it is not uncommon to see 9th grade boys (outside of class) trying to out-do each other in crocheting and knitting wild ski hats!!!
Well, I think I've already strayed way too far off-topic, and I hope that it's clear that I wrote so much as an expression of my enthusiasm, and any inaccuracies are due to my being a newbie at all this. Please email me off-list if you have any questions about this, and I might be able to help track down books, etc.!
Best regards,
Andy
