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As the children choose wood pieces, they identify the various shapes. Ordinal numbers are used as they determine and discuss the steps necessary to accomplish their goals. Sometimes the children make labels for displays in the classroom; younger children may draw pictures of their woodwork and dictate a story about it. Kindergarten children use invented spelling and write their own sentences. The finished products may be the basis for a class story. Some creations lead to further investigation. For instance, if a child builds a bird house, it may become the beginning of an investigation of where birds live, what their nests are made of, and what they eat. The possibilities are endless.

Constructing relationships

The children are so proud of their creations, always anxious to show their teachers and parents what they made. Grandpa Day provides opportunities to incorporate literacy, language, and math along with motor skills development and is a positive and meaningful intergenerational experience for all involved.

The children have great imaginations, which can be challenging for the Grandpas. The men must keep in mind that the object under construction is what the child wanted to build and not necessarily the way the Grandpa might want to do it. The children are always pleased with their creations and the Grandpas are rewarded by watching the joy in the children’s faces as they rush back to the classroom to show their teachers what they have made.

Some familiesamass quite a few wood creations over the years when their children attend our school. Sometimes a mom will sneak a few of them back to the school for recycling into a new project by another child. One mom, upon meeting one of the Grandpas away from the school reported, “We have a whole houseful of airplanes!”

Wonderful stories are frequently told of the woodworking experiences at school. One day Grandpa Tom was helping a little boy get started on his project. As Tom hit the nail to get it started, the nail bent. The little boy looked up at Tom and very seriously said, “You’re not very good at this are you?”

A learning opportunity for a Grandpa came when Grandpa George innocently greeted a girl by saying, “How are you, little one?” She immediately responded with great pride, “I’m a BIG girl!”

One day the Grandpas were finishing up for the morning when a little girl ran up to Grandpa Ralph and hugged him around the knees. When he leaned down to acknowledge her presence, she kissed him on the cheek.

Sometimes the children have a favorite Grandpa and will want to work with only him. This past summer that relationship carried over to Summer Celebration, another long-standing program of the church, when a little boy waited in line every day in order to build with his favorite Grandpa.

The men often report that the experience of working with the children is just as meaningful for them as it is for the children. To quote one of the men:

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