Project Based Learning Electives provided by the Berrien Springs Virtual Academy
​Blacksmithing                                                                                               Spring 2019

Instructor:Ted Guimond 
Contact Information: tguimond@comcast.net
Guimond Metal Art Studio, 04160 County Road 689, South Haven, MI

Additional registration at the location is required!                         
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​ Guimond Metal Art Studio requires that at least one adult representative from each class remain with the class to provide instructor with “two deep leadership” for safety and liability purposes.  Parents to work this schedule out among themselves.

                                     ****Required Materials for all Classes****
-Students should wear natural fiber clothing: (100% cotton shirt and jeans). 
-Students should wear closed toed shoes (preferably leather).
-pencil and notebook

Blacksmithing for the Younger Crowd
Days/Times: Contact Instructor to arrange eight two-hour sessions. Sessions will be in groups of 2-4 students.
Ages: 9-11
Description: An introduction to the art of blacksmithing for children aged 9 to 11 years old. Students will learn the basics of working with a coal forge and a gas forge, hand forging, decorative twists and the use of special tools.Students will begin with simple projects such as nails, kabob skewers, and "S" hooks using lighter guage materials than are used in Blacksmithing I. More complex prodjects are possible depending on the student's ability.
Syllabus

Blacksmithing I
Days/Times: Contact Instructor to arrange eight two-hour sessions. Sessions will be in groups of 2-4 students.
Ages: 12+
Description: Basics of the art of blacksmithing. Topics covered include, but are not limited to: shop and personal safety, forming and shaping iron using forge, hammer, anvil and various blacksmith tools. Students will complete a minimum of eight forged projects including letter opener, "S" hook, cooking utensils, and items for around the home.
​Syllabus

Blacksmithing II
Days/Times: Contact Instructor to arrange eight two-hour sessions. Sessions will be in groups of 2-4 students.
Ages: 14+
Description: This class is designed for the blacksmithing student who has some forging experience or is at least 14 years old. Projects will build on the skills learned in Blackmithing I. Greater Emphasis will be placed on design elements and more complex projects. The projects include, but are not limited to: making a trivet, forged tongs, candle holder, towel bar, forge welded poker handle, tool making, and heat treating. The student will use coal and gas forges and various blacksmith related tools while learning and practicing the blacksmithing skills of hand forging, drawing a taper, twisting, scrolling, bending, splitting, forming rings, drilling, and forging decorative elements.
​Syllabus

Hand Forged Items for Around the Home
Days/Times: Contact Instructor to arrange eight two-hour sessions. Sessions will be in groups of 2-4 students.
Ages: 13+ or prior blacksmithing experience
Description: Student will use coal and gas forges and various blacksmith related tools while learning and practicing the blacksmithing skills of hand forging, drawing a taper, twisting, scrolling, bending, splitting, drilling, joinery and forging decorative elements while making several hand forged items for use around the home. Projects include a back scratcher, door pull, coat hooks, toilet paper and towel holders, candle holder, tablet/book stand, trivet, boot scraper, and large serving fork.
​Syllabus

Hand Forged Campfire Cooking Set
Days/Times: Contact Instructor to arrange eight two-hour sessions. Sessions will be in groups of 2-4 students.
Ages: 13+ or prior blacksmithing experience
Description: Students in this class will make a campfire cooking set consisting of: 3 kabob skewers, 3 "S" hooks, a fire poker, Dutch oven lifter/ lid lifter, combination horizontal and tripod fire pit stand, fire pit stand crane, adjustable trammel hook, and long handled (4') cooking fork. The student will use coal and gas forges and various blacksmith related tools while learning and practicing the blacksmithing skills of hand forging, drawing a taper, twisting, scrolling, bending, splitting, forming rings, forming spirals, drilling, and forging decorative elements.
Syllabus
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Hand Forged Hooks and Hangers
Days/Times: Contact Instructor to arrange eight two-hour sessions. Sessions will be in groups of 2-4 students.
Ages: 13+ or prior blacksmithing experience
Description: Students will use forges, hammers, anvils, and various blacksmith related tools while learning and practicing the blacksmithing skills of hand forging, drawing a taper, twisting, scrolling, bending, splitting, drilling, joinery, and forging decorative elements while making several hand hooks and hanging devices for use around the home. Proposed projects include: “S” hooks, coat hooks, plant hangers, oven rack puller, banana stand, door latch hardware, toilet paper holders, and a towel bar. Students may complete more or fewer projects depending on their personal ability.
Syllabus

*Please note: it is important to make as informed a decision as possible when choosing your student's Community Resource classes. Most locations will allow a student to drop a class after one meeting, at no charge if it wasn't a good fit for the student, but not all. Some classes plan ahead based on the number that have signed up and have purchased materials, hired teachers, etc. and there might be a fee for class time or materials given to the student if the student drops after one or two meetings. The school cannot pay for classes that students do not complete, so choose wisely; if you do not take the class off of your student's schedule by the deadline, you may be asked to pay for the class time incurred prior to dropping the class.
Teacher of Record: Tom Hurst