LFHS Applied Technology
January Highlights 2009

		Last spring, two sections of Todd Johnson’s CAD Engineering students were asked to design wooden toys for children of age three and under. The students designed the toys with the Computer Aided Design (CAD) software and then created wooden prototypes of their designs. The designs were presented to Staff Sergeant Weinrich of the US Marines Toys for Tots Foundation. After considering various aspects of the process and the designs, three toys were chosen for production: a fire truck designed by Matt Bleck, a wagon full of blocks designed by Charles (Nick) Mires, and a rattle designed by Derek Mohrmann. This Fall, the Woodcraft students were presented with the challenge to produce the designs as part of a mass production unit in the class. Four sections of Woodcraft 1 students taught by Mr. Johnson and Mr. Spagnoli participated in the project. Each class was responsible for one of the toys all of the way through the production model discussed in class. The students raised over $1,400 to pay for all of the materials used to build the toys. From this budget, the students set projections, helped to build jigs and fixtures, took on various roles of production and inspection, and even completed a process evaluation. After a month of hard work, the students were able to complete 108 toy rattles, 45 toy wagons filled with wooden building blocks, and 58 wooden fire trucks. On December 8, the students presented the toys to Staff Sergeant Christopher Kemery and Staff Sergeant Ray Gozun of the United States Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. The two Sergeants thanked the students for all of their work. The toys will be distributed to children across Lake County and southern Wisconsin this holiday season.