StM News

Sixth grade students at St. Martin's Episcopal School are blending practical skills with creative problem-solving. Mr. Robby Stanley's Innovation + Design class recently completed a project that highlights the school's commitment to academic excellence and experiential learning. The students constructed Viking chairs and benches specifically for use by younger students in the George Cottage and Lower School.

The Anatomy of a Viking Chair Project

A Viking chair is a simple, portable, and durable piece of furniture designed for outdoor use. The traditional design consists of only two interlocking wooden planks that form a stable, angled, and comfortable seat without screws or nails. For this project, students expanded on the concept, learning how to safely use essential power tools. Sixth graders operated a circular saw, a jigsaw, and a power drill to cut and assemble the wooden pieces. This hands-on experience allows students to develop a love of thinking and learning by applying mathematical and design concepts to a physical creation.

A Progressive Innovation and Design Curriculum

This sixth grade project is part of a carefully structured Middle School curriculum progression. St. Martin's provides a campus of opportunity where students build confidence and technical skills year after year. The curriculum is designed so that by the time students complete eighth grade, they know how to safely use every tool in the Woodshop and Build Shop. This systematic approach ensures that students graduate from the middle school level with advanced problem-solving abilities and practical engineering skills.

Service and Community at St. Martins

The project also reflects the core values of faith, scholarship, and service that define the St. Martin's community. Rather than building objects just for themselves, the middle school students created these durable outdoor seats to benefit the younger members of their own campus. The new chairs and benches now provide comfortable outdoor spaces for children in the George Cottage and Lower School, demonstrating how academic lessons can actively enrich the entire school community.