Project Based Learning Electives provided by the Berrien Springs Virtual Academy
​Blacksmithing                                                                                                Fall 2020
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 these classes.

Instructor:Ted Guimond 
Contact Information: tguimond@comcast.net  269-767-4600
Guimond Metal Art Studio, 04160 County Road 689, South Haven, MI
Format: In-Person

Additional registration at the location is required!        ***These classes fall under both Humanities and Vocational Education in registration***                 
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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.

COVID-19:
Student work stations are spaced 8 – 10 feet apart in the blacksmith shop.  There will be NO contact between non-family students or parents. There is air circulation between outside and inside. Having said this; it still gets quite warm.
As of the posting of this class, students and instructors are required by the state to wear masks to help protect others from the spread of COVID-19.  Should this change it will be an option for students.


                                     ****Required Materials for all Classes****
-Students should wear natural fiber clothing: (100% cotton, flax, bamboo, silk or hemp shirt and pants). 
-Students should wear closed toe shoes (preferably leather).
-long hair tied back
-no jewelry
-pencil and notebook
-personal water/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: (Parent Participation Required)This class is an introduction to the art of blacksmithing for children 9 through 11 years of age.  Parents will work with their child as a helper and coach.  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, and “S” hooks using lighter gauge material and hammers 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.
​Materials fee charged to student's parent/guardian: $15
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: 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 the student's ability. Students who have previously taken this class will be offered alternative projects to replace the ones listed.
Materials fee charged to student's parent/guardian: $20
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 some forging experience or is at least 12 years old. Projects will build on the skills taught 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 pair of blacksmith tongs, candle holder, towel bar, forge welding, tool making, and heat treating. The student will use coal and/or 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. 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.
Materials fee charged to student's parent/guardian: $20
​Syllabus

Upcycled Blacksmithing 
Days/Times: Contact Instructor to arrange eight two-hour sessions. Sessions will be in groups of 2-4 students.
Ages: 12+  
Prerequisite: Blacksmithing 1 or permission of instructor.
Description:Upcycled Blacksmithing: 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.
Materials fee charged to student's parent/guardian: $20.  Additional fees may apply if large amounts of metal are required or if specialty metals are needed for a project.
Syllabus
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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. Metal for projects will be the responsibility of the student’s family.  Number of projects completed will depend on project difficulty and student skills.
Materials fee charged to student's parent/guardian: $20.  Additional fees may apply if large amounts of metal are required or if specialty metals are needed for a project.
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