Whittling Chip Class

Session 1

1. Overview
   1. Review today's session.
   2. Review the next two sessions.
2. Whittling Chip Card
   1. Show Whittling Chip card and pass it around.
   2. Explain what the card means.
      1. A scout cannot carry a pocketknife to a den or pack meeting or event unless he has earned a whittling chip card.
      2. In our den, to earn the whittling chip card, a scout has to:
         1) attend all 3 Whittling Chip sessions
         2) pass the Shavings and Chips Quiz
         3) the scout’s parent has to give permission for him to receive the Whittling Chip Card.
   3. Hand out and review the Whittling Chip Rules sheet.
3. Display a variety of knives and scissors
   1. Start by telling scouts that they may not touch any of the items on display.
   2. Review some rules about knives while showing them a variety of knives and scissors, and pointing out the different types of blades.
      1. Scouts can only carry pocketknives to scout events; adults will bring and use other knives if needed.
      2. Scouts should not need to carry a sheath knife. Injuries can happen with a sheath knife attached at the waist when bending over.
      3. Scissors and other kitchen knives should be treated with the same respect and safety rules as any other knife.
      4. Always walk when carrying an open knife or a pair of scissors. Carry it with the blade pointed away from you.
4. Passing a knife
   1. First show scouts how to properly open and close a pocketknife using the palm of the hand.
   2. Teach the scouts to pass a pocketknife to another person. Don’t release the knife to the person until they say “Thank you,” then you say “Your Welcome.” Saying “Thank you” means that you are taking responsibility for the knife. Saying “Your Welcome” means that you are releasing your responsibility for the knife to the other person.
5. Safety Circle
   1. Explain to the scouts that when using a knife they should have a safety circle around and above them. They are responsible for their knife at all times.
   2. To create a safety circle, hold your arm out and turn all the way around. Then, raise your hand above your head. You should be the only one in this circle.\
   3. If someone enters your safety circle, you should close your knife and lay it down or put it away.
   4. If possible, work with a wall behind you, since you can’t see someone entering your circle from behind you.
6. Pocknetknife Safety Rules
   1. Hand out the PKnife Safety sheet.
   2. Review each rule with the scouts.
7. Cleaning a Pocketknife
   1. Explain to the scouts that knives need to be cleaned by hand, not in a dishwasher. Dry the knife so that the blade doesn’t rust. Rust will affect the sharpness of the blade.
   2. A knife should be cleaned before and after being used on food since the knife can become dirty from being in your pocket. Don’t just wipe it. Food can be contaminated if you do not use a clean knife.
8. Sharpening a pocketknife
   1. Display a sharpening stone. Explain that you can either wet it with water or oil before you use it. Ask the scouts how long they think it takes to sharpen a dull knife (answer: about ½ hour).
   2. Show the scouts how to sharpen a knife (see instructions in the Bear Scout book) using a Popsicle stick and let them try it.

Session 2

1. Review the Whittling Chip Card rules and the Pocketknife Safety Rules.
2. Quiz
   1. Have the scouts and their parents take the Shavings and Chips Quiz.
   2. Review answers, have the parents correct their son’s quiz.
3. Practice whittling with ivory soap and plastic knives.
   (We made sailboats. We cut sails from plastic cups, punched a hole in the top and bottom, and put a coffee stirrer through the holes for the mast)
   1. Review safety circle. Have the scouts create their own safety circle.
   2. Demonstrate shaving on the soap with the plastic knife, emphasizing cutting away from you. Explain that they should make little shavings or chips instead of big. Safety Circle
   3. Show scouts how to make a stop cut for shavings. Pocknetknife Safety Rules
   4. Let the scouts carve a shape using Ivory soap and a plastic knife or a sharpened Popsicle stick.

Session 3

1. Review
   1. Safety Circle.
   2. Opening and closing a pocketknife.
   3. Demonstrate cutting away from you.
   4. Demonstrate making little shavings or chips instead of big, and making a stop cut.
2. Whittling Chip Card
   1. Have the scouts create their own safety circle.
   2. Trace a pattern or use a precut design - can be found at the Scout Store (balsa wood works well for beginners)..
3. With parent’s permission, give out the Whittling Chip Cards
4. (Optional) Give the scouts the Whittling Chip patch at the end of the session or at the next Pack meeting.

Supplies

• Ivory soap (1 per scout, plus extras)
• Plastic knives (1 per scout, plus extras)
• Popsicle sticks (1 per scout, plus extras)
• Sharpening Stone (1 per scout if possible)
• Sails (cut from plastic cups) and masts (coffee stirrers), (1 per scout), if carving a sailboat
• Wood for carving (balsa wood is good for beginners), OR a wood carving kit-can be found at the scout store
• Patterns for carving wood (optional)
• Pocketknife (for display at first session, then 1 per scout for third session)
• A selection of kitchen knives, scissors, utility knives
• Whittling Chip Card (1 per scout)
• Whittling Chip patch (optional)
• Whittling Chip Quiz
• Whittling Chip Rules
• Pocketknife Safety List

If you have any questions please contact me.

Terri White