Unique Interactive IN-PERSON Woodwork Incursions
For 4-years-old and mixed 3-5 year old groups
Woodwork PACKS also available for smaller budgets! CLICK HERE to learn more.
We use Premium Quality Timber (sustainably sourced untreated Pine) for all our wooden toy projects.
Duration: 90 MINUTES
Perfect for the attention span and fine-motor-skills of 4-year-old/mixed groups of 3-5-year-olds.
25 children per group/incursion (30 max, conditions apply)
What to expect
Each incursion starts with a short SAFETY TALK including an interactive TOOL TALK. The children get to try on safety spectacles, which is more for effect than any danger involved (see also our FAQ’s).
They then enjoy a mat-time talk with a fun engaging demonstration (with cute props) about the importance of trees in sustaining our environment.
The children LOVE it. And more importantly... they get it!
Then the "serious" woodworking begins
All children within one group work on the same project. This way each child can easily follow Jim’s instructions. He explains and demonstrates each process clearly and facilitates the children where needed.
Jim asks leading questions throughout to help guide them through their own creative process.
Each child gets to make and take home her/his own proper wooden toy they made all by themselves.
Please note, no battery-driven screwdrivers used with this toy. (Matching image coming soon!)
But wait, there’s more!
This one frequently surprises teachers as they think, the incursion is finished.
But it’s not…
Each child then gets to be even more creative in their own individual UNstructured way with our creative box of random wooden shapes, blocks and dowels.
This often leads to some very surprising results!
Our current 4-year-old wooden toy choices
As with all our wooden projects, they can also be painted as a follow up activity.
The result could look something like this →
BIRD FEEDER
AEROPLANE
RACING CAR
TOOLBOX
$675
per incursion/group
+ GST
25 PER GROUP/INCURSION (30 max at $25 per extra wooden toy over the number of 25)
Includes all Premium Pine Timber Material for take-home wooden toys and unstructured individual projects the children made.
For smaller budgets, CLICK HERE for our hands-on engaging Woodwork PACKS. (Shipping Australia wide.)
TRAVEL DISTANCE & FEE
Our travel fee goes towards both petrol and journey TIME. For return distances less than 25 km, no travel fee applies. Above 25 km we work on a sliding scale per km basis.
For distances over 75 km please refer to our Woodwork PACKS.
We are based near Mornington on the Mornington Peninsula (VIC).
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Links with the VEYLDF
“Jim and Kerstin offer an amazing incursion. We love the links to sustainability which we are very passionate about here at HTK. The children are so engaged with the incursion and Jim is so patient and helpful, he guides the children but they are active participants so gain many new skills from the incursion. We look forward to our in person experience again later this year. It also links with the VEYLDF. Keep up the great work !
— Shauna, 4-Year-Old Teacher
HOLY TRINITY KINDERGARTEN, Hampton -
IT WAS THE BEST DAY EVER
“Jim was amazing, the children absolutely loved the incursion and were filled with enthusiasm and excitement the entire time. They particularly enjoyed the animal activity and finding out about the wildlife that lives in our trees. Here is what the children have to say, "Can Jim come every day?", "I liked when Jim pretended to be an Owl", "IT WAS THE BEST DAY EVER!" Thanks again Kerstin and Jim for organising. ☺”
- Bronte Lincoln, 4-Year-Old Teacher
GOODSTART BRIGHTON Cochrane Street -
Such a great learning experience
“Wow! What a fabulous incursion we enjoyed today. Jim was amazing with the children and his enthusiasm and planning ensured the children had a wonderful time. I couldn't believe how proud they were to have actually made a real toy with moveable bits! They named their plane as soon as it was completed and were keen to decorate and claim ownership. Thanks for all the obvious thought and care that went into making our Little Woodworkers session such a great learning experience.”
— Annette Tsindos, Director & Early Childhood Teacher
CIVIC KINDERGARTEN, Middle Park
All we need is:
A space for each student to work at. Their usual activity tables are perfectly fine.
A readable NAME TAG on each student. It makes it more personal.
We bring everything else. Materials, tools, safety equipment and more!
If you have questions, we gathered any frequently asked questions into an FAQ page. CLICK HERE to find your answers. :)
If you still have a question, feel free to contact us anytime.
How to book us:
Click the button to secure an incursion date. You will be taken to our quick & easy Booking Enquiry Form.
Once you submit your form, I will check if your suggested date is available. If not, I will email you with alternatives.
Once we have date (or dates) and time confirmed, you will receive a booking confirmation with all the details. EASY! ;)
FREE (printer-friendly) Teacher Resources
Jim and I sat together and spent hours (days really) tailoring the EYLF Learning Outcomes to our Little Woodworkers™ incursions to show you all the Benefits.
They are also perfect for the children's portfolios!
The PDF Download LINK is provided with each Booking Confirmation and Invoice.
“Such a wonderful experience once again for all the children (and educators too). The parents couldn't believe that the children had made the Aeroplane independently and even more amazed with the use of real tools (so great). We will be extending their experiences with wood over the coming weeks and have a good supply of soft wood and nails. You and Jim are such a good team! One day you must come along and see how the children respond to Jim's woodwork session... Thanks again for everything you both do to provide this important experience for our young children.”
— Annette Tsindos, Director & Early Childhood Teacher, CIVIC KINDERGARTEN, Middle Park
Our Incursions
Align with the VEYLDF Practice Principles
Fulfill the EYLF Learning Outcomes
Impart an important sustainability message
Help children make the connection between their environment and every day wooden items
Have the potential for follow-up lessons and activities
Ensure the children remember this experience for a long time to come
The Children
Broaden their knowledge base
Feel a sense of connection to nature
Develop an awareness and appreciation of the world around us
Receive a positive sustainability message (and understand it)
Develop confidence with new tools
Develop and encourage fine motor skills
Create positive lasting childhood memories
“The session was fantastic! The children thoroughly enjoyed it and Jim was great with them. His session was so informative and we were impressed with the quality of his presentation! Thank you also for the great resources for their portfolios! We will definitely use your service again and recommend to all our early childhood contacts! Thank you so much.”
— Kirsty Patullo, Kindergarten Teacher, KIDS COMPANY, Cheltenham
The quickest and easiest way to make a booking is via our short Booking Enquiry Form here.
The way it works:
Use our quick & easy Booking Enquiry Form to make a booking. It will give us all the information we need to process your booking.
Click the Submit button at the bottom of the form.
We email you to confirm availability or suggest an alternative date or dates.
Once date and time are confirmed, we email you your Booking Confirmation with all the details.
Should you have any other questions, click here for our FAQ’s.
Or, if you would like to CONTACT US, click here to get in touch.
Click here for the booking form.
“I'm absolutely loving your work. Some of my fondest memories of my grandfather is him teaching me the wonder of constructing something out of such a lovely material. Wood! We need more hands-on activities like yours for children. The skills you are teaching are being lost. Keep up the fantastic work!”
— Simon Hutchinson, Director & Creator of CLIMBING TREE NATURE PLAY AND SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANCY