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My sons school sent a letter home saying that they only has 6 parents in the entire school volunteer for career day. So I said I would do it. But I cant really figure out how to give a fun presentation for kindergartner's. Iv been a mechanic for the past 12 years. I started my own company about 6 months ago and Im a mobile heavy equipment mechanic now. I dont really know what to say or do other then "Hey kids, I fix things with engines". Thanks for any input.
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Bring in a front end loader and tear down part of the school? -
What kind of heavy equipment? Didn't you used to repair/maintain fire trucks and ambulances? Kids love that - just try to make it interactive.Last edited by slow99; 05-12-2015, 09:21 PM.Originally posted by davbrucasComment
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What age are the kids? I'd bring in some engine parts and explain how a motor works. Maybe a short block on a stand that you can crank by hand and show them how an engine works.Comment
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Kids (boys) love heavy equipment like dozers and excavators. Think you could bring one to the school and actually show them what you work on and how it operates?"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes...Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." - Thomas Jefferson, 1776Comment
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You don't have to focus solely on the engine/mechanics of it. Start with the trucks/rigs etc and explain that you keep them going ... at a very high level, of course.Originally posted by davbrucasComment
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Skid steers, forklifts, bull dozer's, excavators, back hoes, tractors, tillers, 18 wheelers, etc...Originally posted by slow99 View Post
I dont really stick to any one particular type of equipment. All of my customers have a wide variety of equipment so I end up working on all kinds of stuff.
I was working on a forklift for one of my customers and an employee brought me a hedger to fix so I fixed it. Then another one brought me a tiller to fix so I did. Got the forklift done then their F650 wouldnt shift so I fixed it. Kind of a niche I suppose. Most mobile equipment guys will only stick to particular types so the customer has to run all of their stuff to various different shops which annoy's them. I understand why most mobile guys stick to type though.Comment
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Kids are 5-6. I thought about bringing something up there but it's a hassle and I don't own any equipment so I dont want to ask to borrow anything. Besides I think I only have 10-15mins. I'd love to bring stuff in the classroom but the time restraint is going to limit what I can take in.Comment
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Also having 5 year olds near heavy equipment is an accident/law suit waiting to happen.Comment
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Bring in Toys of heavy equipment.Comment
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step one, buy this shirt:Originally posted by stephen4785 View Post
step two, show them what an air hammer does to a beanie baby."When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic." -Benjamin Franklin
"A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury." -Alexander Fraser TytlerComment
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PM svo855 for guidance.Comment
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LMAOOriginally posted by Denny View Post
Seriously though, just bring in 2 or 3 tools, especially if it's something like a giant wrench. I'd ask how many of them have ever seen say a dozer working on a road. Then, I'd talk about all the people involved with the project and highlight the fact that you keep things rolling. Point out that it's often a mobile job and not just at a shop. Kids will find it cool that you can talk about different machines that you've worked on in different places. If you have any parts to bring (pistons, cams, etc.), that would be cool too, especially if it's something twisted and broken.Comment
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I've done a few of those. They're easy. You gotta remember to think at their level. Kids love visual stuff. So passing around some big wrenches is a good idea. (just make sure whatever you pass is safe).. Their attention span is that of a ant, so keep it simple. I always try to relate my personal experience and how my teachers and parents helped me.
Your goal is to try to spark that one kid that just hasn't figured out his interests yet to think about what you do for a career. They'll change their minds 10 times in the coming years, but you're just there to show them something new.
Here is a great quote if you can use it... (works best on a power point)
“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.Comment
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Treats and toys. Kids love big equipment even if its a tonka truck, then show them tools used to fix it. Also bring in candy or small treats if you can...youll be the coolest ever.
I brought in a thermal weapon sight to a career day once and that got a lot of attention and interest in technology.Comment
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