This is a picture of a wooden spoon that one of our children hand-carved
at around 11 years old as part of a class at a Waldorf school with other homeschoolers. First, the children started with
a solid block of basswood. Using only hand tools (chisel, rasp, mallet), an impression was first made where the bulk of the
spoon was to be. Then the wood around this area was worked with until a rough form of the handle emerged. The entire
shape was then refined until the desired shape was present. Then the spoon was sanded, and a couple of coats of olive oil
were added. Building on the practical skills that children have been honing since age 8 or so, useful
articles like this one continue to be made. We use this very spoon in our kitchen on a daily basis.
More examples of woodworking are coming soon!
