Woodworking Wednesdays

The second group to do woodworking poses in front of Mike on November 23

 Upon first entering the room, our young ones may cover their ears and look up at us as if to say, “Are you sure this is the right room?” Their initial confusion over the loud noises, big machines, and older kids does not last long, however.  Mike Lawson quickly approaches with a smile and a reassuring sense of confidence, and welcomes everyone into his woodshop.  Mr. Lawson is the last Industrial Arts Teacher in the Seattle Public Schools, and we feel honored to be partnering with him and Franklin High School.

The first group in action

Students have been assigned into groups of eight or nine, and each group gets four sessions to really start, get into, and finish a project.  At the start of each session, Mr. Lawson dumps a large box of wood scraps on the table, and makes sure each child has a hammer, some nails, and safety glasses. Our students then select pieces from the table and begin hammering away! Mr. Lawson coaches them on technique, and encourages interactions with his own students and ours.  

Katie at work

The Lake and Park kids really look up to the high school students, and thoroughly enjoy having the opportunity to learn from them. They will, in fact, often turn down help from our own staff, and wait for a turn to be helped by a “highschooler.”

The students walk away from this encounter with a number of positive experiences: they have an even further understanding of the importance of community relationships, they have a new skill set, and they have a physical creation of their very own, not to mention a sense of pride and accomplishment that is so strong, I am sure it can be sensed by passers-by. We love woodworking Wednesdays!