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Mentor resources

TWG Kids Lesson Plans

Open a complete project or skill plan for a focused adult-led session. Every card names the stage, time, visual, and adult involvement before you open the detail resource.

9 lessons ready to open

With grainsame grit · same strokes
Across grainsame grit · same strokes
The arrows show stroke direction. Your sample supplies the scratch result.
Stage 1 · Start at the BenchSKILL LESSON

30-Minute No-Cut Lab

A calm first session that makes sanding sequence, witness marks, dust cleanup, and surface inspection visible without a saw, drill, or finish product.

Plan for
Plan for: 30 minutes: 5 setup, 5 introduction, 12 activity, 5 inspection and discussion, 3 cleanup.
Readiness & adult role
The adult mentor sets readiness; this no-cut session suits a learner who can follow a sanding and cleanup routine. The adult controls setup, workholding, dust controls, and any task that is not appropriate for this learner.
Open lesson resource
Open-top wooden box with the bottom beneath four walls; long walls outside and short ends between them. Fasteners are not shown.
Stage 2 · Build with ConfidenceBUILD LESSON

Simple Wooden Box

An illustrated TWG box-build lesson for reading five prepared parts, checking the fit, and understanding the adult-controlled fastening path.

Plan for
Plan for: 75 minutes after adult preparation, plus glue cure time.
Readiness & adult role
The adult mentor sets readiness and checks the actual parts before assembly. The learner handles part matching, reference-face checks, supported sanding, and any explicitly released glue, clamp, or inspection job. Cutting, screw-layout approval, drilling, countersinking, screw installation, cure, and final-use decisions stay with the adult.
Open lesson resource
Open Flower Box form with five wood parts and three holes through its bottom. Hole positions are illustrative; the linked Illinois activity is the construction source.
Stage 3 · Build BetterBUILD LESSON

Flower Box

An illustrated, adult-led path through the Illinois 4-H Flower Box activity. Source directions and TWG clarifications are labeled separately.

Plan for
Plan for: Two short sessions after adult preparation; TWG planning estimate, not a source-stated duration.
Readiness & adult role
The adult opens and follows the Illinois plan, checks actual stock and fit, prepares the parts and drainage holes, and controls nail placement, products, cure readiness, and intended-use decisions. A learner may measure from a reference, inspect prepared parts, hand-sand supported edges, and take a specifically released glue or paint task with direct supervision.
Open lesson resource
Bench hook from two faces. Orange stop on top at one short end; teal cleat underneath at the opposite short end of the 12 × 8 × ¾ in base.
Stage 1 · Start at the BenchBUILD LESSON

Bench Hook

A measured three-part TWG bench hook model for learning workholding orientation and adult-controlled assembly. Actual use needs an adult check.

Plan for
Plan for: 60 minutes after adult preparation, plus glue cure time.
Readiness & adult role
The adult mentor decides whether the learner is ready for the listed hand-sanding, dry-fit, and inspection jobs; the adult controls cutting, pilot holes, structural fastening, and finish products.
Open lesson resource
Open organizer model. The illustrated TWG variant is a 4 × 4 × 4 in open organizer assembled with adult-controlled glue only.
Stage 2 · Build with ConfidenceBUILD LESSON

Pencil Holder / Desk Organizer

A small open organizer that teaches a complete four-wall assembly, a measured base, and a useful final object for a desk or shop bench.

Plan for
Plan for: 70 minutes after adult preparation, plus cure and optional finish time.
Readiness & adult role
The adult mentor decides whether the learner is ready for the listed sorting, sanding, dry-fit, and use-planning jobs; the adult controls cutting, glue, clamps, and finish products. The illustrated variant has no fasteners.
Open lesson resource
Proposed cardboard parts. Cut paper or cardboard for an 18 × 6 shelf, 18 × 4 back and two 4 × 4 support shapes. The ¾ in value is a proposed wood thickness only.
Stage 3 · Build BetterDESIGN & FIT STUDY

Small Wall Shelf

A complete paper/cardboard shelf design study: compare four proposed parts and support options, then record the unanswered wood-joint, wall, hardware and load questions.

Plan for
Plan for: One 60-minute paper/cardboard design session.
Readiness & adult role
The adult mentor oversees cardboard layout and cutting. A future wood version requires a separate checked joint, wall, hardware and load plan.
Open lesson resource
Four proposed parts. The cardboard study uses the listed base, back, support and front ledge dimensions.
Stage 2 · Build with ConfidenceDESIGN & FIT STUDY

Phone / Tablet Stand

A complete cardboard stand study using four proposed parts, two support-angle options and a same-size device mockup. A wood construction plan remains a separate adult decision.

Plan for
Plan for: One 70-minute cardboard design session.
Readiness & adult role
The adult mentor oversees cardboard cutting and comparison. Any wood construction and real-device decision require a separate checked adult plan.
Open lesson resource
Practice versus final material. Label practice scrap and final material separately before a bounded test.
Stage 3 · Build BetterSKILL LESSON

Teen Skill Track

A longer, adult-supervised practice cycle for older builders who are ready to read plans, test on scrap, and reflect on setup decisions.

Plan for
Plan for: Four to eight sessions of 45 to 90 minutes, depending on the chosen tool skill and project.
Readiness & adult role
The adult mentor assesses readiness for the specific tool or task, follows manufacturer instructions and applicable rules, sets the stop signal, and decides whether the learner may perform a bounded operation under direct supervision.
Open lesson resource
Home Depot form, TWG no-perch companion. The source supplies the form and construction sequence. TWG omits its outside perch under separate Cornell guidance.
Stage 3 · Build BetterBUILD LESSON

Birdhouse Build: Read and Dry-Fit the Plan

Use The Home Depot's seven-piece birdhouse plan to practice part matching, dry-fit, and habitat questions before an adult controls any construction.

Plan for
Plan for: Source estimate: 2–4 hours for the project; allow a separate adult preparation and placement check.
Readiness & adult role
The adult mentor decides whether the learner is ready for part matching, hand sanding, dry-fit, and habitat discussion; all cutting, drilling, fastening, mounting, finish, and placement decisions stay adult-controlled.
Open lesson resource
Open printable mentor tools →