Project Based Learning Electives provided by the Berrien Springs Virtual Academy
​Blacksmithing                                                                                         Fall 2021

​Students and teachers must be able to readily switch to online lessons at any point in the semester in order to register for classes.

All students must complete a project for this class.


Instructor:Ted Guimond 
Contact Information: tguimond@comcast.net
Guimond Metal Art Studio, 04160 County Road 689, South Haven, MI        ***All Classes Cancelled 8/9***

Additional registration at the location is required!        ***These classes fall under both Humanities and Vocational Education in registration***                 
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​ Note to parents: All parents are welcome to stay during the class, but at least one parent from the class must stay to provide “two deep leadership” and security.

                                     ****Required Materials for all Classes****

STUDENTS SHOULD ALWAYS WEAR:

• closed toe shoes (preferably leather)
• natural fiber clothing (100% cotton, flax, bamboo, silk, or hemp shirt and pants).
• long hair tied back
• no jewelry
• gloves are optional

STUDENTS SHOULD BRING TO CLASS:

• Personal eye protection: safety glasses or goggles.
• Personal hearing protection: ear plugs or sound reducing head gear.
• Pencil and notebook
• Personal water
• Personal snacks
  
  
  
  

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 projects are possible depending on the student's ability. Students who have previously taken this class will be offered alternative projects to replace the ones listed.
Note to parents:
Each student must have a parent or guardian who attends the class with the student to act as their helper and coach.
Syllabus

Blacksmithing I
Days/Times: Contact Instructor to arrange eight two-hour sessions. Sessions will be in groups of 2-4 students.
Ages: 11+
Description: Blacksmithing 1 is an introduction to the art of blacksmithing.  Students will learn the basics of working with a forge, anvil, hand forging, decorative twists, and use of special tools.  Students will begin with simple projects such as nails, kabob skewers, “S” hooks, coat hooks, and letter openers.  More complex projects are possible depending on a student’s ability.  Students who have previously taken this class will be moved into Blacksmithing 2 or offered alternative projects to replace the ones listed.
Syllabus

Blacksmithing II
Days/Times: Contact Instructor to arrange eight two-hour sessions. Sessions will be in groups of 2-4 students.
Ages: 12+
Description: This class is designed for the blacksmithing student who has taken Blacksmithing 1, or has some forging experience and is at least 12 years old.  Projects will build on the skills taught in Blacksmithing I.  Greater emphasis will be placed on design elements and more complex projects.  The projects include, but are not limited to making a pair of blacksmith tongs, candle holder, towel bar, tool making, and heat treating.  The students will use gas forges and various blacksmith related tools while learning and practicing the blacksmithing skills of hand forging. Students who have previously taken this class and want to repeat it will be offered alternative projects to replace the ones they have already completed.
​Syllabus

Upcycled Blacksmithing 
Days/Times: Contact Instructor to arrange eight two-hour sessions. Sessions will be in groups of 2-4 students.
Ages: 12+
Description: Upcycling is converting used or discarded items for a new purpose.  Upcycled Blacksmithing is the use of materials that have been picked up from a scrap pile, or discarded from one purpose and are forged into new and useful items in the blacksmith shop.  Examples are, but not limited to: kitchen knife from industrial coil spring, herb chopper from lawn mower blade, barrettes and pendants from political lawn sign support rods, dinner triangle chimes from old re-rod, letter opener from railroad spike…many possibilities
Syllabus
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Advanced Projects: Items for Historical Reenactors
Days/Times: Contact Instructor to arrange eight two-hour sessions. Sessions will be in groups of 2-4 students.
Ages: 14+ 
Description: Blacksmithing Items For Historical Reenactors is designed for the blacksmithing student who is interested in reenactment camping.  This class very rigorous and physically demanding class will build on the skills taught in basic blacksmithing classes.  Greater emphasis will be placed on functionality of design.  Projects are all geared toward use as historical reenactment camping gear.  Projects will be based on Early American through civil war design and include: tent stakes, flint and steel fire making kit, fire poker, a free standing lantern hook, collapsible fire pit grill, and a flag pole holder.
​Syllabus

Advanced Independent Projects
Days/Times: Contact Instructor to arrange eight two-hour sessions. Sessions will be in groups of 2-4 students.
Ages:  Minimum of 14 years old and prior experience required.
Description: Blacksmithing: Advanced Independent Projects is a class designed for the student who has successfully completed at least two blacksmithing classes, or has other experience deemed a sufficient prerequisite by the instructor.  Individual students will propose their personal projects for the instructor’s review and acceptance.  Students will work on their selected projects under the guidance of the instructor.  Number of projects completed will depend on project difficulty and student skills.
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