Enrichment

Enrichment with Mr. Shenker

= Update 3/12/14 = We've been blogged, check out this blog by Sailrite.

We are having lots of fun making our tote bags. The mantra is "be the machine". Check out our progress.
 Making a tote bag: Like many of your parents, my favorite part of middle school (besides science) was shop class. For me, middle school was a place where I learned how things work and how to make things. I loved the time that I spent in wood shop, metal shop, sewing and cooking classes. Through the years, I have used these skills in most aspects of my life, I have enjoyed using the skills that I acquired in middle school restoring and building boats, working on my house, and even making halloween costumes for my son. This year in enrichment, we will explore one of my favorite questions "how is that made, can I make one?" We will make a standard Boat Tote bag, similar in design to an LL Bean Canvas Bag. It will have a pocket on the outside and will be made of durable cotton canvas. I hope you enjoy the process as much as I do.  Check this video out to learn some basics. media type="custom" key="25329288" Equipment:  Materials: [|10 oz Cotton Duck]  [|1" or 2" Polypropylene Webbing]  [|Polyester Thread]

Parents: This is my first year on this project with the 8th graders, their response was even more enthusiastic than I had expected. I have brought in my own heavy duty sewing macine (pictured above) and Wood Hill Middle School has purchased our first order of canvas and webbing. We have been very lucky to receive a donation from [|Sailrite] of an [|Ultrafeed LSZ-1] Walking Foot Sewing Machine. We should see it in January. If you would like to contribute to my endeavor of teaching the kids how to sew, please contact me at jshenker@aps1.net. Additionally, I have included a wish list below. Wish List: [|Sailrite LSZ-1 Sewing Machine] [|Singer CG590 Commercial Sewing Machine] [|Singer Heavy Duty Sewing Machine 4411] [|Cotton Duck] [|Webbing] [|Thread] media type="custom" key="24905800"