The Woodworking Program at Ocean Charter School starts in 4th grade and continues through 8th grade. The primary goal of the Woodworking Program is to immerse the students in the process of creating a real wood artifact from their imagination. The 4th grade child’s independence is starting to emerge, which makes them developmentally ready to expand their skills and interests. The children will strengthen their skills and deepen their understanding of the process as they progress into the middle school.
It is a magical process to use one’s hands and imagination to create something out of a piece of wood. The student’s eyes, their will and their hands work together simultaneously as the aroma of the wood fills up the studio. Each step of the project will combine sensory experiences with their developing eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills. Their concentration, perseverance and patience will be required every time they do their work. The learning process and experience they gain in this 5 year woodworking program is more important than the beautiful projects they create. The woodworking progression from 4th to 8th grades supports the students’ mental and physical development at different stages and ingrates and deepens the work of the main teachers.