Objective: Students study how a pencil is made and learn about the manufacturing process in general.

Learning Skills:
- manufacturing
- sequencing
- geography

Lessons:

PART I: Before distributing the activity sheets (attached below), ask each student to think of the ways in which graphitei can be inserted in the pencil body or casing. After the students have completed Part I, pass out the activity sheet and explain. This sheet can be suplemented with more detailed information on the process from our Pencil Making page.

After this activity you may also want to watch our "Let's Make A Pencil" Video with your class.

PART IIA Option:
Many components of pencils are produced from raw materials supplied from different regions of the world beyond just other products within your state. You may wish to expand your discussion to some of these items.

PART III Option:
Review the various machines used in the "manufacturing process" required to make pencils from the basic raw materials through to finished pencils. Have the students discuss in groups what types of different machines are used to make other common products they use everyday.

Answers:

Part II: Written/oral reports can be judged on depth of research and creativity.

Part IIA:
Pencil Leads (Cores)
graphite ....................China, Ceylon
clay ........................varies

Pencil Woods
Incense-cedari ............California & Oregon
Basswoodi ....................China
jelutongi/pulaii...............Indonesia, Malaysia
poplar................... China, India, Turkey
Kedra (pine).............russia

Lacquer
coloring pigments ....... varies by color

Eraser
factice .................Dutch East Indies
Sulphur chloride.........varies

Ferrules
zinc & copper............varies

Part III:
sawmill - log to lumber....... debarker, headrig saw, resaw, edger, trimmer, grade/sort, kiln drying, ship to finshed product remanufacturing (e.g. pencil slats, windows, doors, furniture)
pencil slat factory - lumber to slats ..... equalizer, tandem saw, grade/sort, edger, stain & treat, kiln drying, final inspection/packaging
pencil lead factory - grahite/clay to pencil cores .... graphite grinder, graphite milling, grahite/clay mixing, packing, extruding, cutting, drying
pencil factory - slats, cores...... groover, leadlayer, glue clamp, endtrim & shaper, painting, stamping/decorating, tipping, packaging

Here is an interesting link to see how many different types of everyday products are manufactured.