I was so excited to unbox the two ChompSaws that we purchased from the Chomp Shop over the summer. I have been following the project since it was on Kickstarter, to Shark Tank, and now in my makerspace.
We started using the tool with grade 1 and below, and they are fascinated with using a “power tool.” The first graders used it to support letter recognition, creating the first letter of their name and some numbers. The preschoolers made “their cozy thing,” which is supposed to be a replica of their favorite thing at home, so they can also have it at school. Another preschool class made simple puppets of the main character in the story they wrote to use as a tool when they tell their stories to others.
The younger students needed a bit more help than the first graders, and several were able to get the hang of it and do most of the cutting independently. The teachers and I found that this was a great activity for developing motor skills in their zone of proximal development.
Cozy Things
Letter Recognition
Puppets
