Each semester, the class group is split in half for the Design and Technology rotations between Craft and Woodwork.

In Woodwork, the Class 7 and 8s focused on practising a range of carving techniques. This relaxing pastime gave students the feel for timber grain structure, how to find the flow, and how some stubborn pieces of timber fight being cut.  

We then put this new-found understanding to the test as we transitioned to dressing a piece of rough-sawn Jarrah into a workable piece using a bench plane. 

The first project undertaken by the Class 7s was a Spinning Top, where students used a wide range of tools from the marking gauge, drill press, pedestal sander, and to everyone's favourite; the Granny-tooth router. The second project gave students some freedom in designing the shape for a bookend, and like the class themselves, no two designs were the same. A beautiful aspect of this project was that the students who came through from Silver Tree got to use the wooden mallet they made in Class 6 to chisel their workpiece. 

The Class 8's first project was a photo frame. They also used their newfound carving skills in identifying which direction the grain ran in order to use the rabbet plane to cut a rebate. Cutting the perfect mitre-join proved a challenge, but there were no gaps in sight by the end. The second project was making a serving tray, which gave them quite a bit of free license to dictate most of the design. With a short term and a number of pupil-free days, it was a race against time, but in the end all the students produced something they were proud of. 

Simon Griffiths

Design & Technology Teacher