Why I have a Tool Bench in my classroom

Why on earth would you need a tool bench in kindergarten?

I'm sure that's what the grant people thought when they read through my proposal but something I said stuck because I was awarded a grant earlier this year to buy tools and a tool bench for my classroom. Here is a little background information before I show you all of the fun!

I recently attended TheKindergarten Experience by Dr. Isela Garcia. The purpose of the training was to increase the awareness and implementation of evidence-based practices in the kindergarten classroom. These practices include teaching the life skills of attachment, belonging, self-regulation, collaboration, contribution, and adaptability. After attending this training I realized that my classroom is greatly lacking in some of these areas. While we have everything we need for academic success we do not have everything we need to grow socially and emotionally.

The workbench and tools are used in a deconstruction area that Dr. Garcia refers to as a take apart station. Students use the bench and tools to take apart various items like toasters and VCR’s. Not only does this center give students an opportunity to explore how things work, but it also teaches the difference between destruction and deconstructing. Students will need to persevere, use self-regulation skills when they are frustrated, and cooperate with others to get the job done. Later in the year we will use this as a maker space and students will use the nuts and bolts they collected during the deconstruction process to build new things.

When I first introduced this new center my most ACTIVE child blurted out, "This is going to be awesome!" I couldn't help but agree with him! With a little bit of direction on the do's and don'ts of the take apart station it was open for business. Here are some action shots from this week.....

This week we took apart a computer. I removed any sharp or dangerous objects first.

The drawer holds all of the tools. They feel like real technicians with all of the fancy equipment!

I allow 2 people at the station at a time for now.

The main goal is to find screws to take out and they have to show lots of patience!

I made sure to buy some goggles to have on hand so they can be safe. Plus it adds to the fun! Here is a link to the set I bought. This is an affiliate link and I receive a small amount of money if you purchase through the link. Thank you for supporting my blog! 

And here is a link to a similar tool bench (for a better price than I got mine for!). I bought mine through the Home Depot. It had wheels on it and I took those off to make it a little shorter. 


So that answers the question why I have a tool bench in my classroom. My students LOVE this station. We've taken apart toasters, VCR's, computers, and a few other electronic items. I remove the covers and they do the rest. 

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