Construction Work
FOR
Rural and Elementary
Schools

BY
VIRGINIA McGAW
Teacher in the Elementary School
of Baltimore

A. FLANAGAN COMPANY
CHICAGO

Copyright 1909
BY
A. FLANAGAN COMPANY

PREFACE

In offering this volume to the public the author has but one wish—namely, that it may supply a want in time of need and help some one over a difficult place.

Most of the subject-matter in Parts One, Two, Three, and Four was written for and has been previously published in the Atlantic Educational Journal, with a view to assisting the rural teacher. The present volume comprises a revision of the articles published, together with a short account of one season's work in a school garden, and has the same object—that of aiding the rural teacher by means of a few simple suggestions.

The work is divided into five parts—"Cord Construction," "Paper Construction," "Wood Construction," "Basketry," and "The School Garden." No subject is dealt with at length. The aim has been to give simple models that may be made without elaborate preparation or special material.

Believing that a child is most likely to appreciate his tools when he realizes their value or knows their history, a brief introduction to each part is given, and wherever possible, the place of the occupation in race history is dealt with, and an account of the culture and habitat of the material is given.

As clear a statement as is possible is made of how the model is constructed, and in most cases both a working drawing and a picture are given.

VIRGINIA McGAW.

Baltimore, Maryland,
April, 1909.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To the Atlantic Educational Journal for the privilege of revising and relinquishing the articles on Cord, Paper, Wood, and Basketry.

To Mr. George M. Gaither, Supervisor of Manual Training in the Public Schools of Baltimore, for five of the woodwork patterns.

To President Richard W. Silvester, of the Maryland Agricultural College, for the inspiration to write the Garden Bulletin, his consent to its republication, and his hearty coöperation in its revision.

CONTENTS

• CORD CONSTRUCTION
• Introductory Remarks 9
• Knots 9
• 1 Overhand Knot 10
• 2 Square Knot 10
• 3 "Granny" Knot 11
• Chains 11
• 4 Loop Chain 11
• 5 Overhand Knot Chain 13
• 6 Solomon's Knot Chain 13
• Combined Knots and Chains 15
• 7 Knotted Bag 15
• 8 Miniature Hammock—Knotted 16
• 9 Miniature Portière—Knotted 17
• Weaving 17
• 10 Miniature Hammock—Woven 17
• PAPER CONSTRUCTION
• Introductory Remarks 25
• A Model Lesson 27
• 1 Windmill or Pin-wheel 31
• 2 Square Tray No. I 31
• 3 Square Tray No. II 31
• 4 Square Box with Cover 32
• 5 Square or Rectangular Box 33
• 6 Pencil Box with Sliding Cover