Field plans for dadsOne page per plan · Friday letter

Home / Start here / Print pack

Your print pack

1 field card, one per page: Build-something date: a birdhouse, shelf or planter.

Back to Start here

One card per US Letter page. No printer? Choose Save as PDF in the print screen.

Dad Field Manual · Field card 145 · Dad-and-Kid Dates

Build-something date: a birdhouse, shelf or planter

One small project, one trip to the hardware store, one afternoon. They're the builder, you're the crew, and it goes up with their name on the bottom.

Time
About 3 hours
Cost
About $20
Ages
7 to 12
Where
Hardware store, then garage or table

What you need

  • A small project kit, or the boards and screws on a simple plan
  • Safety glasses for each of you, kid size for them
  • Hammer, screwdriver, tape measure and pencil
  • Sandpaper and a clamp
  • A permanent marker

Shop rules: read first

  • Safety glasses on both of you whenever anyone hammers, saws or sands. NEI says safety glasses protect eyes during home repair work.
  • You run any power tool. They measure, mark, hammer, sand and drive screws by hand. You make any power cuts or drill holes.
  • Clamp the wood, never hold it. If they use a hand saw, clamp the board first, keep their other hand clear, and stand beside them.

Steps

  1. Pick the project. They choose a birdhouse, shelf or planter. Check the plan for any cuts you'll make.
  2. Run the store trip. They carry the list, find the aisles, ask for help and pay.
  3. Set up the shop. Clear a surface, put on glasses, lay out pieces, and make any power cuts yourself.
  4. Build it. They measure, mark and fasten; you hold pieces, hand them parts and keep your phone away.
  5. Sand, sign, show it off. Sand the edges, both sign the bottom, and put it to use the same day.

If it stalls

  • If a nail bends, show them how to pull it with the hammer claw and start a new one. Bent nails are part of it.
  • If they lose interest halfway, take a snack break, then finish one part together. Leave the rest for next weekend.

Cut out: the invite

Saturday you're the builder and I'm your crew. Pick one: birdhouse, shelf or planter box.

— Dad

Ask on the date

  1. If you could build anything at all, what would it be?
  2. What's the hardest thing you've ever made?
  3. What are you good at that I don't get to see much?
  4. Who at school makes you laugh the most?
  5. Where should this go, and who's it for?

Keep it

Both sign and date the bottom in permanent marker, then take one photo of the two of you holding it.

Things we've built
We went on Next time: Date