Math for Middle School

What's the Angle Here? Geometry off the Paper.

In the winter months there are less things to do outside of the garden, so at Kelly Middle School we decided to offer a woodworking program after school to help students find new ways of incorporating mathematics and engineering into winter garden needs.

During the first few classes we went over tool Safety (which you can find tips for at the bottom of this page), how to read a measuring tape, using a square and marking out your "cuts." The students then all built their own boxes for seed storage that they could take home and be proud of! It was really interesting to see how many kids (at the middle school level) had never been exposed to any building what-so-ever, most of my students took a few days to get used to using a hammer and to find their own confidence in it. I noticed that as the students got better at something as simple as hammering a nail, they became more confident with the rest of the class (especially the young women).

Seed Storage Box: The picture to the right is one of the students seed storage boxes, we made them out of old lath from a house and they measure 9" X 4 1/2" X 4 1/2" This is a great project to begin with as the students got to measure out their pieces, learn to use a square, and how to drive a nail without splitting wood. I did not have them cut their own pieces for this project as I wanted them to start slowly with tools, it also gave a chance for me to model appropriate saw use for all of them as well as get them interested in expanding their own knowledge of tools. (This project took about 4, 1hr sessions).

What was your favorite project? "El primer Diaz!" (building a seed storage box).    - Jose 6th grade

Our second project was based on marking out Angles and using a protractor & Mitre-Box to make 45 degree measurements and cuts. This was amazing! The students were a bit hesitant at first with comments such as "oh, but I'm not good at this math at all," but once some time was taken to explain, through trial and error, the practical use of a protractor, they began to get really excited! 

"This is exactly what I'm doing in my math class! Now I get it!" -Itzel, 7th grade

We used Mitre boxes with the students for this project to help them keep their saws in line, as well as a method of checking their marks with a protractor against a "true" angle. Overall, this project was an effective lesson in using a protractor (7th grade math). Students were able to make their own cuts as well as put their end project together themselves.

Geometric Tree: for this project we used recycled lumber scraps that had incidentally been dyed green. The tools needed were 4 mitre boxes and push saws (one for each adult to monitor), a pair of gloves for each saw, yarn, hot glue guns and construction paper for decorating. (This project took about 2, 1hr sessions to complete *with tool safety lesson).


These practical applications of Middle School Level Geometry are very enriching to students understanding of the importance of the math they are learning in a "real-world" setting. When I had the students fill out a small questionnaire at then end of our session, 100% of the students said that the class had helped them with their math. 

Did you learn something new? What?"How to use degrees in math" - Briseyda 7th Grade 
"How to measure in different ways." Wes 7th Grade

The students favorite project was designing a house and engineering it exactly to their design. In honor of the winter season we did this with gram crackers and frosting that the students made. This wasn't just any old ginger bread house though, the students started by choosing 1 of 3 "garden shed designs" that were in measurements that fit the gram crackers, (which we compared to the average 4'X6' sheets of plywood that many structures are built around).  Once they had chosen their design they had to replicate it in an appropriately proportional manner on their own graph paper before they could get "materials". Drawing up blueprints was a great exercise in geometric graphing and can be applied to any middle school math class.

The students did a great job at taking their construction seriously and going for the most accurate replication of their blue-prints. Everyone was given a set amount of gram crackers, and were also challenged to make the least amount of waste possible. We used plastic knifes as our saws and rulers the measure and make straight cuts for our houses. In the end the students were able to create some fantastic models of potential garden sheds for the school!

Designing a Garden Shed & Reading Blueprints: The materials needed for this project are graph paper, pencils, and rulers for the design process. Gram crackers, powdered sugar, milk or water (to make their own frosting), plastic knives and a good sense of humor! (This project took 1, 1hr session but could be given more time if you have it.) 

How do you think this class might help you with your school work? Did it? "I learned about architecture and house building!" - Hannah 7th Grade

Heres a few tips for working with hand tools at school:

• Start slowly! Implementing woodworking in your classroom does not mean starting out with a full set of Craftsman tools and powersaw. Start simple, introduce one tool and one skill at a time.
• Teach the kids how to use real tools correctly. Cover the rules for the Woodworking Area, and make it clear that if they choose not to follow the safety rules they will need to leave that area and sit somewhere else. Safety is always first and foremost. This concept can be taught, as can a healthy respect for tools
• Limit the number at the workbench to one or two.
• When working with saws or any edge-tool, Leather gloves are mandatory. Make it clear that no one is to pick up any tool without them on.
• Expect and model respect for the tools and the woodworking area. Learn and teach the children the correct names of all of the tools. Trace the outline of the tools on the pegboard for children to put the tools back when they are finished with them.
• If, at some point you incorporate a saw, either have a vise permanently attached to the workbench to hold the wood in place when sawing, or a staff member with the student to help them hold it (this also provides time for positive team work between staff and student as well as time to give tips on how you can best use the tools)
• The best types of wood to use are soft woods – white pine, cedar, fir, and redwood. Lumber companies, cabinetmakers, karate schools, and hardware stores, if asked, often will donate scraps of wood.
• Use nails with large heads (roofer nails). Do not have nails that are longer than the wood, to prevent a nail sticking out of the bottom of a "creation".
• to avoid problems, remove the tools from the workbench and bring them out only during the times when they are in use
• You can start the nails for children. (You can also place a comb between the nail head and the child’s fingers as a barrier to prevent injury).
• Safety is paramount!!! The Woodworking Area must be well supervised at all times (We use a 1-4 staff/student ratio).
• At kelly we only have one tool per adult in the room at a time, that means there is never a reason why someone with a tool cannot have direct supervision, it also helps the kids to slow down and take their time which in the end helps to prevent any accidents.

Rules Adapted from  http://www.childcarelounge.com/activity/wood-working.php