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Birdhouse Workshop

  1. Cut out this pattern (elsa link) on the Zund
    1. Bevel the tops of the walls at a 45 degree angle so that they look like this
      2. image

each kit will have:

  1. two walls
  2. one floor
  3. one front
  4. one back
  5. one bottom roof panel
  6. one top roof panel

You will also need;

4 clamps per person, (minimum 2 long)

24 screws per person

One 1/4” dowel per person

Drills

#8 combination countersink drill bits

1/4” drill bits

Phillips head driver bits

Hand sanders, loaded with sandpaper

Kids will learn to:

  1. manually sand
  2. how to use a drill
    1. change drill bits
      1. teach them to do it by hand, at least at first, because doing it mechanically can hurt their hands
    2. reverse
    3. go forward
    4. parts of the machine
  3. assemble a woodworking project
    1. put pieces together, follow a plan
  4. clamp
  5. paint
  1. First, have kids practice drilling into the floor piece of the birdhouse using the 1/4” drill bits
    1. this works as drainage holes for the birds, and also gives them practice drilling before they do real screw holes
    2. pls make sure to put an extra piece of wood underneath the real wood to avoid drilling through the table
  1. Sand the edges of the wood
  1. Now add the first walls
    1. Lay the floor flat on the table
    2. Take one wall and put it against the side of the table.
    3. Pull the floor out to be flush with the wall. Clamp the wall against the bottom of the floor, and clamp the floor to the table.
        4. image
        image
      1. Make sure that the sides are at a right angle and aligned with the floor! These are going to be the base for the rest of it so if they’re off the final product will be a little extra wonky
    4. Drill two holes through the bottom of the floor, where the dots are marked. this will also drill into the side of the wall. Then switch bits and add a screw in both holes.
      5. image
  2. Next, add the second wall

    3. a. Similar to the previous step, but this time clamp it onto the corner of the table.

    1. Again, make sure that the wall is flush and at a right angle.
      2. image
  3. Now it’s time to add the front and back
    1. clamp the floor to the table
    2. clamp the front between the walls
      3. image
      image
    3. screw the top screws into the sides of the front, then remove the clamp and screw the bottom screws in
  4. Add the back
    1. clamp the front to the table with 2 clamps
      1. 1 clamp = pivot point
    2. clamp the sides against the bottom of the back
    3. screw the top back screws in, remove clamp, repeat for bottom back screws
      4. image
  5. Add the bottom roof
    1. clamp the top of the roof to the bottom left corner of the birdhouse
    2. clamp the left wall to the table
      3. image
    3. drill through the four screw holes, then screw screws in
      1. you might need longer screws if the top is a little wonky
  6. Add the top roof
The Possible Zone