THE DO NOTHING BOX
PROJECT DIRECTIONS
1. Give the students the drawing in the classroom 2 weeks before the lab.
2. Have them write down all their measurements and write up a material and tool
list.
3. The students will give their material lists to the instructor (as their foreman) and
the instructor writes up a material and tool list to turn in to the designated
“purchasing agent.”
4. The students also have to think about material lead times.
5. On the day of their lab, each student gets only the material they identified on their
lists and if they missed something, they will have to make a special trip to the
“supply house.” (This way, they will see how they wasted time and money by not
taking time to write up a proper material and tool list.)
Everyone has to follow all of the steps as they would on the job. (We don’t just tell our
company owners to send us all the materials to build the building; we have to supply a
materials list.)
This exercise helps to give the students a practical idea of how the material ordering
process works in the field. In addition, the students practice working with different hand
and power tools in a non-boring application.
On their own, the students will compare their finished project with the ones made by
their fellow students with friendly competition. They can even take their completed “Do
Nothing Boxes” home and with pride show their families what they have learned and
can do.
This project is a great teaching aid that turns a dry exercise that the students do not
value into a competitive project with hands-on applications.
CORE CURRICULUM
PERFORMANCE TASK
Modules 00103 & 00104 Introductions to Hand & Power Tools
These modules cover the selection, inspection, use and maintenance of common hand
and power tools.
NEXT WEEK HAVE STUDENTS BRING HAND TOOLS,
A CORDLESS DRILL & SAFETY GLASSES
DIVIDE INTO 2 PERSON TEAMS AND BUILD THE 2” x 4” PROJECT
ABC WILL SUPPLY THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL:
8’ – 2” x 4” STUD
4 – 16 PENNY NAILS
6 – 8 PENNY NAILS FOR A NAIL GUN
4 – WOOD SCREWS
2’ – ½” PVC SCH 40 PIPE
1 – ½” PVC SCH 40, 90 ELL
TEAMS WILL READ PROJECT DRAWING, MEASURE, CUT AND DRILL
USING HAND AND POWER TOOLS TO BUILD THE PROJECT.
ABC WILL SUPPLY THE FOLLOWING TOOLS IF NEEDED:
AIR NAIL GUN
ELECTRIC DRILL WITH ¾” FLAT WOOD BIT
ELECTRIC CIRCULAR SAW
CROSS CUT HANDSAW
PHILIPS SCREWDRIVER
CLAW HAMMER
WOOD CHISEL
MALLET
MEASURING TAPE
SPIRIT LEVEL
COMBINATION SQUARE