After-Schools and Summer Camps
Classes for School Age Kids
Students make drums at "Drum Shop"
Students make chess sets at "Chess Shop"
Woodworking on the Build-It Bus
Classes:
- Chess Shop: Kids make their own chess sets and learn how to play chess. More information about Chess Shop.
- Drum Shop: Kids make percussion instruments from assorted materials. They video-tape their performances. The class culminates in building a multi-drum set on which a final show is performed. Drum shop is currently being run jointly with Chess Shop at the Joseph Leidy School. (See video)
- Guitar Shop: Kids become luthiers, making and designing electric guitars. The also learn some guitar-playing basics. We made fully tunable 6 string guitars, but it is also fun to make simpler versions. See video below.
- Fix-it Shop: Kids learn how to repair such things as bicycle flats, broken dishes, patch a wall, fix a leaky toilet, sew on a button, patch a rip.
- Wood Shop: Kids learn basic wood working skills and make projects of their own choosing/invention. More information about Wood Shop.
- Magic Shop: Kids construct magic trick props, learn tricks and perform a magic show (can include learning how to juggle).
- Invention Shop: Kids build their own inventions - they design and construct a new solution to an old problem.
- Stage Works: Students build the set and props, make the costumes, and perform a play.
- Toy Shop: Kids make classic folk toys and invent some of their own.
- Games Around the World: Kids learn about – and make – games played by children around the world.
- Gift Shop: Kids make gifts for loved ones — especially around the holidays.
- Doll House Shop: Kids make wooden doll houses and furniture.
- Yarn Shop: Kids learn needlework — knitting and crocheting.
- Sewing Shop: Kids learn basic sewing skills including learning how to use a sewing machine.
- Kitchen Fun: Kids learn to use simple recipes to make food that can be cooked in a toaster oven. Kitchen Shop will culminate in a meal prepared by students for their families.
How to Make a Junk Guitar - from NPR's Science Friday: