Construction Work for Rural and Elementary Schools Part 1

Construction Work for Rural and Elementary Schools.

by Virginia McGaw.

PREFACE

In offering this volume to the public the author has but one wish--namely, that it may supply a want in time of need and help some one over a difficult place.

Most of the subject-matter in Parts One, Two, Three, and Four was written for and has been previously published in the _Atlantic Educational Journal_, with a view to a.s.sisting the rural teacher. The present volume comprises a revision of the articles published, together with a short account of one season's work in a school garden, and has the same object--that of aiding the rural teacher by means of a few simple suggestions.

The work is divided into five parts--"Cord Construction," "Paper Construction," "Wood Construction," "Basketry," and "The School Garden." No subject is dealt with at length. The aim has been to give simple models that may be made without elaborate preparation or special material.

Believing that a child is most likely to appreciate his tools when he realizes their value or knows their history, a brief introduction to each part is given, and wherever possible, the place of the occupation in race history is dealt with, and an account of the culture and habitat of the material is given.

As clear a statement as is possible is made of how the model is constructed, and in most cases both a working drawing and a picture are given.

VIRGINIA McGAW.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, April, 1909.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To the _Atlantic Educational Journal_ for the privilege of revising and relinquis.h.i.+ng the articles on Cord, Paper, Wood, and Basketry.

To Mr. George M. Gaither, Supervisor of Manual Training in the Public Schools of Baltimore, for five of the woodwork patterns.

To President Richard W. Silvester, of the Maryland Agricultural College, for the inspiration to write the _Garden Bulletin_, his consent to its republication, and his hearty cooperation in its revision.

PART I

CORD CONSTRUCTION

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

To a child one of the most attractive of possessions is a piece of cord. He has so many uses for it that it becomes part of the prized contents of his pocket. Since this commodity affords so much pleasure to the untrained child, how greatly may the pleasure be enhanced if he is taught how to make the number of beautiful things that may be wrought from cord or twine! Having this knowledge, he will unconsciously employ many otherwise weary moments in fas.h.i.+oning some coveted article.

Among the things he can make are chains, reins, bags, nets, miniature hammocks, portieres, and rugs for the dollhouse. He must be guided step by step from the simplest to the more intricate. He must be taught that only when a thing is well done has it any use or value, therefore the best effort is necessary to the success of his work. If he ties a knot, it must be properly tied or it will not hold. If he makes a bag or a hammock, the meshes must be uniform and the color blendings pleasing or it will lack beauty, and even he, himself, will not care for it. Should he make a chain or reins, they ought to be attractive-looking as well as useful; hence the aim should be for artistic combination and perfect execution. The success the child will meet with will depend greatly upon the att.i.tude of the teacher toward the work and the amount of spirit she may be able to infuse into it.

KNOTS

_Aim_--To teach the names of different knots, how they are tied, and the utilitarian value of each.

Begin by teaching how to tie a knot, and that all knots are not alike nor tied in the same way. There are three kinds of knots--the overhand knot, the square knot and the "Granny" knot. Each of these has its use, its place, and a utilitarian value.

1 Overhand Knot

_Material_--One 10-inch piece of heavy twine.

Hold one end of the twine firmly in the left hand and throw the other end over with the right hand to form a loop; then pa.s.s the end in the right hand under the loop; and draw it through tightly, making a firm knot.

[Ill.u.s.tration: OVERHAND KNOT]

A long piece of twine in which are tied either single knots at regular intervals, or groups of three or five knots with s.p.a.ces between, will make a chain which will delight any small child.

2 Square Knot

_Aim_--To teach how to tie a knot that will not slip.

_Material_--One 12-inch piece of heavy twine.

Take an end of the twine between the thumb and the forefinger of each hand. Holding in the left hand end No. 1, pa.s.s it to the right over end No. 2; then pa.s.s it under No. 2; finally, pa.s.s it out and over, making the first tie. Now, holding end No. 1 firmly in the right hand and end No. 2 in the left, pa.s.s No. 1 to the left over No. 2, then under, out and over; draw the two ties together, and you will have a firm, square knot.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SQUARE KNOT]

3 "Granny" Knot

_Aim_--To teach the name of the knot one usually ties and how to tie it.

_Material_--One 12-inch piece of heavy twine.

Take an end of the twine between the thumb and the forefinger of each hand and hold firmly. Pa.s.s end No. 1 to the right over end No. 2, under and out. Next pa.s.s end No. 2 to the right over end No. 1, under and out.

We now have the knot known as the "Granny," which we ordinarily tie.

CHAINS

4 Loop Chain

_Material_--One piece, 5 yards long, of macrame cord, No.

12, one color. (See page 12.)

About five inches from one end of the cord make a short loop. Using this loop as a starting-point, work up the length of the cord to within about eighteen inches of the other end, by repeatedly drawing a new loop through the one previously made as one does in crocheting. The child can easily manipulate the cord with his tiny fingers. Aim to have the loops of uniform size. Finish with a loop five inches long, leaving an end of the same length. Now, placing together the two ends of the chain, we have a loop and two single ends of cord. Take these single cords together and b.u.t.tonhole them over the loop for about three inches, then twist. Tie the single ends with a square knot, and fringe them out; leave the loop.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LOOP CHAIN Showing how st.i.tch is made and appearance of finished chain.]