Carpentry Students Tackle First Woodworking Project
The first woodworking project of the year always creates excitement for new Academy Carpentry students. The assignment requires that they use hand tools (power tools are introduced the following month), learn how to read woodworking plans, and troubleshoot if mistakes are made.
This year, students are tasked with building a bird house. Everyone begins with the same amount of time (a maximum of four days), a set of plans, supplies (one six-foot piece of wood), and tools (hand saw, nails, glue, clamp, pencil, ruler).
Lucas teaches students how to interpret their woodworking plans, which are detailed instructions that include a scale-sized illustration of the project, a list of required tools and supplies, and all the cuts that need to be made to the wood.
“Everyone only gets one piece of wood,” said Lucas. “If they make an error and cut one side of the bird house too short, for example, they will need to cut the other side to make it look right and complete the assignment. Problem solving will always serve them well.”
The Eastern Long Island Academy of Applied Technology, referred to as the Academy, is the Career and Technical Education Program of Eastern Suffolk BOCES and has locations in Bellport, Oakdale, and Riverhead. Bixhorn Tech is located on the Bellport campus.