ABSTRACT

Woodwork offers young children so much of what they need to thrive and grow. This chapter looks at examples of longer-term projects, which often last over several weeks or even months. It explains what extended learning projects are and the context of project-based learning in bringing together different areas of learning. The chapter provides examples of specific projects that emerged from children's interests. Extended learning projects are a wonderful way to extend learning. They encourage more in-depth investigation, build on developing skills and combine different areas of learning. Creating wooden sculptures is always a very engaging project for children and provides a great way to expand developing woodwork skills. Deconstruction is an exercise in discovery. Children enjoy using their skills with tools to deconstruct items. They are curious to discover what lies inside and are fascinated to investigate how things work. They focus intently on this detective role and learning often expands as they investigate.