Category: Construction Studies & Woodwork Projects

Leaving Certificate Construction Studies Projects 2014

Below are the projects submitted by this years Leaving Certificate class for the State Examinations 2014.

The Leaving Certificate course is broken into three sections with 50% awarded for the terminal exam, 25% for a practical examination and 25% for the projects shown below

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Junior Certificate Woodwork 2013 Projects

Below are the projects submitted by this years woodwork classes for the State Examinations.

Students had to pick one of the following design briefs and submit a project they felt answered the brief

Design Briefs – Ordinary Level

1. Design and make an artefact to store and display items of jewellery in an attractive manner.
The artefact should be hand-crafted from solid woods and should be able to accommodate a range of different jewellery items. It should be pleasing to look at and be lightweight and sturdy.

2. Design and make an attractive clock for use in your home.
The design should be unique and be inspired by a major sporting event of your choice. The clock should be compact and elegant in appearance and should complement its surroundings.

3. Design and make a small footstool suitable for use when playing console games.
The footstool should be well proportioned and should incorporate a facility to store a minimum of six games.
The maximum dimension of the footstool should not exceed 400mm.

Design Briefs – Higher Level

1. Wood is a natural tactile material that encourages a child’s exploration of their environment.
Design and make an attractive educational toy suitable for use by a young child. The toy should incorporate a device or mechanism to aid the child’s sensory development through play. You should demonstrate clearly how you addressed health and safety issues in your design.

2. Many young people admire iconic figures who inspire and motivate them in their lives.
Design and make an artefact that could be presented to such a person or group and which reflects their inspirational and motivational characteristics. The artefact should be enhanced by the natural beauty of complementary solid woods.

3. Wooden items of elegant proportions, which portray the inherent beauty of this natural material, enhance any home. Design and make a slimline wall-mounted unit to safely store a range of first-aid items.
The unit should incorporate hand-crafted joints and should harmonise with its surroundings. It should include a small removable facility for essential items for use in the event of an emergency.
The maximum dimension of storage unit should not exceed 450mm.

Facelift for Dromcollogher Centrepiece

Dromcollogher Tidy Towns, Hazelwood College, the local Credit Union and others recently joined forces to carry out a major facelift to the garden centrepiece in the town’s square.

The feature which has been part and parcel of Dromcollogher for over forty years is now decked out with new benches and floral features for locals and visitors to enjoy. The old benches had gone into disrepair and had been taken but now the Tidy Town in association with the woodwork department in Hazelwood College have arranged for the installation of spanking new seating. “We were approached by the Tidy Towns Committee and the school were very happy to have another link with community and it was an opportunity for the woodwork department to show our skills and the students to have something to represent their work,” explained Jonathan Fealy, woodwork teacher at the school. The three benches were hand made by the students from good quality hardwood ash, finished in decking oil for weather protection and installed on concrete bases. The stu-dents have been involved in making the benches for a couple of hours a week since last November. “We are very proud of our input into the development and we have had plenty messages back to the school commenting on how well they look and on the quality of the students’ work,” Mr. Fealy said.

It is an uplift for the centre of the town and was a great community effort, it adds more to the focal point in town according to Tidy Towns Committee member Frank Brudair. “It was really the strands of the community pulling together, while it was the Tidy Towns idea, it would not have been possible without the Credit Union coming on board and providing some very valu-able financial assistance. The Dromcollogher Carnival Committee also gave a donation towards the work,” Mr. Brudair said. Some very tasty floral features have been provided adjacent to the benches and for this Mr. Brudair expressed his thanks to local florists Eamonn Villiers of Coun-try Fresh and Rita Ruddock for their sponsorship and for the planting in the Square.

The development is only part of the bigger project that the hardworking Tidy Towns Committee have planned for enhancing the town. “Every town and village is vying with each other to look the best and put its best foot forward. Dromcollogher is a proud town and we like to do our best. It is a long term project but when people are working together, the support of schools and local families helping out, it shows what can be done with a small bit of effort,” Mr, Brudair concluded.

Mr Patrick Kelly, visited Hazelwood College today to present to the students his fully functional replica Formula One car. Mr Kelly recently completed his Bachelor of Education and Technology at the University of Limerick.

As part of his final year at the University Patrick undertook a 10 week placement at Hazelwood College, teaching students Woodwork, Construction Studies and Technical Graphics from September to December. After his return to the University Patrick began the task of building what is believed to be the only fully driveable wooden formula one car.

The car is built on a steel chassis, with a wood composite skin. The wood composite skin comprises of bendable plywood, medium density fibreboard and almost five hundred hand cut maple and walnut pieces to form the outer skin. The car was then hand sanded and between three and six hand applied coats of oil to bring the car to its final finish.

It is powered by a 600cc, 90HP engine with a six speed semi automatic transmission, giving it the same power as a 1.5l petrol family car, but with about one third of the weight. The car is capable of over 100mph.

Pictured above are the Leaving Certificate Construction Studies Class Mr Kelly taught while on placement at Hazelwood College with their teacher Mr Fealy.

Gallery – click on any image to enlarge

Junior Certificate Woodwork 2013 Projects

Below is a selection of the projects submitted by this years woodwork classes for the State Examinations.

Students had to pick one of the following design briefs and submit a project they felt answered the brief

Design Briefs – Ordinary Level

1. Design and make an elegant artefact to display a maximum of three tea-light candles on a table. The artefact should be designed to be safe when in use. Your design should be hand crafted in solid wood and should have a storage facility for six additional tea-light candles.

2. Design and make a money box to be displayed on a desk or shelf. The money box should be attractive in appearance and should include a facility to display a small photograph.

3. Design and make a decorative artefact to hold three small potted herb plants. The artefact should be designed to be wall-mounted in an outdoor setting. Your design should be elegant in appearance and should reflect the theme of ‘grow your own food’.

Design Briefs – Higher Level

1. The most cherished objects are often those that are simply crafted and easy to use. Design and make a stand that will support an open cookery book on a kitchen worktop. The stand should express the elegance of handcrafted joints. As a secondary function, the stand should be suitable as a visually attractive wall mounted display.

2. The spirit of welcome is a cultural trait which is valued and celebrated worldwide. Design and make an artefact which could be presented to welcome a visitor to your local community in 2013. The finished artefact should be elegant in appearance and its design should express an aspect of culture that is unique to your community.

3. An organised environment enhances a young person’s bedroom space. Design and make a slimline, wall-mounted storage unit for use in a bedroom. A portion of the unit should provide a means of concealing a number of personal items. The unit should be of elegant proportions, enhanced by the natural beauty of solid wood. Your design should reflect the sustainable ideal of doing more with less.
The maximum dimension of the unit should not exceed 500mm.