Kindergarten woodworking is a series of basic carpentry exercises designed to give young students the know-how to safely use sandpaper, files, hammers, screwdrivers, hot glue guns, drills, clamps, and saws. After an introduction to each tool, students will have the year to practice their crafts, and bring their imaginations to life. These exercises encourage creative and critical thinking, and facilitate agency at a young age.

This project is structured such that teachers provide minimal instruction, and students learn through the process of design, test, and redesign. We encourage you to customize this project to the needs of your class, but maintain the ideal of students learning through exploring.

The lessons were developed by Emily Smith and Robbie Torney at Lighthouse Community Charter School. This guide begins with an overview of kinder making at Lighthouse, then goes into depth for specific tools and activities.