Jennie Harriman has 25 years experience as an art educator, and has earned both an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts with teaching licensure, and an MA in Early Childhood Education.
Jennie’s approach to teaching focuses on nurturing individuality, creativity and discovery to help children develop skills that enhance confidence and self-esteem.
Her signature “Hammer, Saw, Drill” woodworking courses have been widely successful in classrooms and grant-funded residencies. The curriculums are designed to empower students of all ages and abilities, building confidence and independence through hands-on woodworking skills, the responsible use of tools, and the promotion of creativity, cooperation, and problem solving.
Jennie is the author of 6 educational picture books. She enjoys bringing her work to new areas as a traveling artist, and has accepted many opportunities to share art and education with children throughout the United States and internationally.
Sample Programs Offered
Program Type: Arts Curriculum, Arts Integration
Program Description:
In this hands-on residency, students will be guided through the safe and effective use of hand tools to build their own woodworking projects (examples include a boat, a bed, an airplane, and a creature). Each project gradually introduces new challenges, as students develop confidence with different tools and techniques. The curriculum provides novel and engaging opportunities for students to learn skills related to math (measuring, geometry), science (physics, botany), and art (drawing, painting, sculpting), while increasing independence and creative problem solving skills.
This program meets the criteria for the new TN Visual Arts Standards.
Lesson Plan Example: Download File
Program Type: Arts Curriculum, Arts Integration
Program Description:
TIn this residency, inspired by the Little House in the Big Woods book by Laura Ingalls Wilder, children enjoy hands-on opportunities to learn skills related to math, science, art, history, and literature. Students are guided through the safe and effective use of woodworking hand tools to create multi-media projects inspired by the book. This fun, back-to-basics program helps children learn and appreciate some of the basic skills that people used in the Victorian Era.
This program meets the criteria for the new TN Visual Arts Standards.
Lesson Plan Example: Download File
Program Type: Arts Curriculum, Arts Integration
Program Description:
This engaging residency provides students the opportunity to design and build their own functional wooden car and racetrack. Students are guided through the safe and effective use of hand tools, and learn how to install wheels on their vehicle. After completing the woodworking projects, children put their cars into action and experiment with racing their cars on the track to determine which factors effect speed. This course provides an exciting integration of hands-on learning with skills related to math, science, art, and creative problem solving.
This program meets the criteria for the new TN Visual Arts Standards.
Lesson Plan Example: Download File
