Blueprints

I know these aren't the best pictures to go by, but it's the best I could do. To summarize, the dimensions are as follows: 3'8" tall, 2'8" wide, and 3'6" long. Each shelf is 3" deep, 5" tall (top 1" creates the book rest for the next shelf) and the top shelf is 10" deep which is perfect for standing up books or stuffed animals. The opening is 20"X 20". Each side has two windows, which are each 8" X 8".

Shopping List

First thing's first...Shopping!! Hopefully you have a truck, or can borrow one, because you will need 3 sheets of plywood. I used 3/4 inch plywood for the base and 2 sheets of 3/8 inch for the sides and bookshelves. 1/2 inch would work just fine for the sides as well. Make sure you check it over to see if it is very bowed/warped. It never hurts to ask, so if I were you, I'd take the second or third sheet in the pile. The first one is usually a little bowed because it doesn't have any weight pressing down on it.

I bought pretty much all my supplies at Menards, but Lowe's or Home Depot should have what you need as well. I'm sure I will forget some things, but I will try to edit as needed. Considering I haven't completely finished my barn, I'm sure there will be other stuff I pick up. Here's a list to start you out:

• 1 sheet 3/4" plywood
• 2 sheets 3/8" plywood
• 220 grit sandpaper and 110 for rougher plywood( I buy them in the bulk 20 sheet packs)
• 1" finish nails - a bunch... (also called 1" brads sometimes)
  
• 1 box 1 1/4" wood screws - #8 size
  
• 3 boxes nuts and bolts - 3/4" long -#8 size (I believe there were 36 sets in my boxes)
• drill bits - 11/64" for drilling holes for bolts and one smaller for pilot holes for wood screws
  
• hurricane brackets (used in framing houses) At this point I have used probably 30 of them, but I'll have to count when I am finished to let you know. To see what they are, here's a link. They have been a lifesaver! Very sturdy and just what I needed to put it all together properly.
  

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/fasteners/connectors-reinforcements/truss-rafter-tie-downs/hurricane-seismic-anchors/hurricane-seismic-anchor-double-plate-reversible-1/p-1343106-c-8894.htm

• 11/32" socket to tighten bolts
• 4 corner brackets 3" big - comes in a pack of two (shown in picture)
  
• 4 adjustable 3-way brackets (same isle as hurricane brackets)
• primer (I primed it so I didn't have to use as much enamel paint. The brand was from Wal-Mart and had 1, 2, 3 in the title. It's supposed to go under/over any surface, and did a great job)
• paint (I used enamel tractor paint. It's tough and durable. 1 gallon Ford Red and 1 quart White. I got it at a farm supply store)
• PlastiDip (great stuff! I painted it over every single bolt, bracket, screw-head, etc. It creates a soft edge vs a sharp one so no one gets cut. I used the red kind, but since I painted over it I guess it doesn't matter what color you get. I got it at Menards. By using this liquid plastic, if I ever need to tighten anything I will be able to scrape it off and tighten the bolts, even with a coat of primer and 2 coats of enamel on top of it. If I had only painted, I do believe it would be nearly impossible to get the nuts on and off.
  

http://www.plastidip.com/home_solutions/Plasti_Dip

• trim for edges - I have no idea how many feet you will need. I haven't gotten that far and haven't actually bought any because I have hundreds of pieces from my Granddad. To guesstimate, you will need:
• 12' of corner trim for outside straight edges
  
• trim for openings and edges ( I am routering a groove in the back of some 1" trim so it will sit flush with the outside, similar to shoe molding.
• 8' of 3" trim for bottom level of book display
• I did buy two 8' sections of tiny lattice trim to make window X's and a pretend hayloft on the front.

There might be some things I forgot to mention, so I will try to edit as quickly as possible and let you know what changes I made. :) If you haven't already figured it out, this is not a cheap project. BUT, it's for a good cause, it's tax-deductible, and it's been a lot of fun to build! I'm a little afraid to add up all my receipts, though. :S

Basic Construction

A few tips for amateur builders out there:

• Check your lumber over carefully. You don't want to unknowingly buy warped or cracked boards or plywood. Many stores won't take it back after purchasing, so make sure you know what you're getting. Don't be afraid to pick through the lumber yourself! You have a right to choose the best of the bunch.
• Have some good tools. I am fortunate to have about everything I could ever need to build with, but there are a few specialty tools I have used in this project. You can make do without, or find someone who has one to borrow if you don't want to sink any extra money into tools right now. I will update the list when I think of additional tools I used...there's so many!
  

List of tools needed:

• Circular Saw and safety goggles
  
• Jigsaw
• Hammer
• Level
• Square
• Pencil
• Cordless Drill w/ phillips bit, drill bits
• Sander and sandpaper (220 grit is what I used the most of, I believe)
• Sawhorses
• Socket set or socket attachment for drill to tighten nuts (I used a socket screwdriver set)
• Paintbrushes, dropcloth, paint thinnner
• Wood Plane

I'll post a list of materials needed in a bit. It will take a bit of time to calculate all that I have bought for this project!

Book Barn: Part 1

I found an amazing project idea from a post on Pre-K Pages, a page on Facebook. They had a link to a website:

http://tunstalltimes.blogspot.​com/

She has an awesome book area in the shape of a barn, which I intend to copy. I am putting my pictures and instructions up in this blog in hopes to help everyone who would like to build one for themselves! Bear with me as I post; I am still in the middle of construction! Hopefully I will finish my barn this week. We'll see! The 100+ degree weather is cutting into my initiative and productivity levels... :)

Here is a picture of the project. Mine will look similar, but with a few modifications and a lot of safety backups. A few things I have done may seem like overkill, but I only want to build it once, and I have 22 more years of teaching left! I sure want it to hold up, not to mention be safe for my students!

Welcome!

Lately I have been trying to decide what new way I should use to share ideas with my fellow teachers. I follow several blogs, so I figured, why not? Hopefully we can gain some insights into each others classrooms and have fun at the same time! I have been teaching Kindergarten for 8 years now, and am still loving it!

In my free time I love to tinker in my workshop and work on carpentry projects. Each summer I try to complete one project (sometimes more) for my classroom. I had yet to decide what to do, when low and behold, the perfect project appeared on Facebook! I belong to a number of teaching pages, one of which being PreK pages. Someone posted a picture of a book barn, and I knew that it was exactly what I wanted. Unfortunately, the owner of the barn could not provide any blueprint information or dimensions, so I had to design my own and "wing it". So my saga begins and the "Book Barn" project was born! I will be posting all the instructions, steps, and tips I have used while constructing. I warn you; this project is not for the faint of heart or amateur builder! Either ask someone to help you that has at least some rudimentary knowledge of carpentry work, or be prepared for a long haul! I hope you enjoy my journey through this process, and if you plan to build your own and have any questions, just let me know! :)

Trish Loven,
Kindergarten teacher