Teaching Plastic Modeling in Middle School

By Jerry Davidson

When model manufacturers say that today's youth are not interested in plastic model building, they are being proven wrong by one of our own TRMA trustees. Jerry Davidson, who has been a middle school and high school teacher for 18 years has organized and is offering an enrichment class in his middle school that introduces basic modeling skills to his 7th grade classes. We all know the benefits that model building brings to those that engage in the activity and Jerry has set out to prove that the youth of today is indeed interested and willing to learn and create accurate models of their choice.

The whole scenario for this accomplishment started when Mr. Davidson transferred to the middle school from his high school assignment. He was told that he was to create a class that not only would have educational benefits but would also be fun for the students. After long thought and conversations with the building administrator the concept for a modeling class was approved. After approval was gained, Jerry approached his students with the idea for the class. The students enthusiastically approved of the class as did their parents. With that endorsement from the administration, students and parents, Jerry started organizing the curriculum, which includes appropriate models for the students to choose, which tools and glues that would be acceptable, their safe use, what types of paint should the students use in a classroom setting and what types of brushes and spray paints that could be safely worked with. After gaining approval of the selections Jerry and his kids were off and running.

The new modeling class gained an added boost and helping hand from the management of Riders Hobby Center in Taylor, Michigan. Riders has always been a community minded business and added to the courses momentum when they offered the students a 20% discount on all plastic models and related tools and paints. With this help, the response has been overwhelming within the student body. The response has been so great that it was determined that the class should be on a 10 week cycle. 32 students will engage in the activity on each cycle.

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Variety is the word that describes the students choices in their projects. The students are now building cars, Polar Lights figure models, doll houses, planes and YES! Students are even building the Titanic! Jerry gives daily demonstrations on proper construction techniques, selection and use of glues as well as regular sessions on how to use the correct amount of paint on their models. He even has to spend time doing some damage control for those that have been a bit hasty in their assembly process. Students seem to have quickly learned these lessons with some students showing amazing results for 12 and 13 year old kids, as you will be able to see with the included photographs.
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To this point in the school year the new modeling class, taught by TRMA trustee Jerry Davidson at Gerisch Middle School in Southgate, Michigan, has been an unqualified success. Many students have requested to stay in the class for the second term as well as many (over 50) new students who have expressed their interest. The school administration has touted the class as a very exciting new addition to the enrichment process for the school and students. Reports of the new courses' progress will be posted on the TRMA site in the months to come.

The following photographs were taken of the students and their projects in Mr. Davidson's 7th grade modeling class.

Jerry Davidson