English summary

Sloyd or wood and metal work

In the Nordic Countries sloyd (or wood and metal work) is a subject in the primary school. In Denmark it appears both as an obligatory subject as well as an optional subject. All pupils must have the subject on ground level, and after that they can, in most of the schools in Denmark, choose it if they want to go on with it. The pupils can choose to take a final test in the subject. In sloyd the pupils work with all sorts of materials but mainly wood and metal. The pupils make products and through that they learn design, ethnological and cultural techniques, as well as the characteristics of the materials. The things the pupils make can be toys, furniture and other articles for everyday use, or nonfigurative sculptures. Through sloid the pupils get understanding for nature, history and foreign cultures.