Decorating pumpkins is a favorite Halloween activity for students at Westview in the Department for Exceptional Children. It’s a chance to exercise creative skills and get into the spirit of the season. This year, however, students in the 6:1:2 class had the opportunity to learn a different set of useful life skills in the school’s woodworking shop. Westview SBAs Doug Van Roo and Sarah MacCallum designed a pumpkin project that involved math, measurement, lots of patience and safely using power tools, including a jigsaw, power hand drill and sander.
“Miss Mac” (right) helps a game Julia get her project off to a good start.
First-time carpenter Emanuel rose to the challenge, with an actual pumpkin decorated to match his carefully crafted wooden version.