I volunteered to builkd a workbench for my 4-year old's pre-k class. The teacher's want to leave it outside, on a covered deck. We're in Chicago. The ceiling is pretty high, so I expect it will get rained and/or snowed upon. The teacher expects no more than two or three kids ( 3-5 years old) to use it at once.
Because it'll be left outside, and not be moved it could be too heavy to carry. It doesn't need a vise, it's really only for the kids to pound on. I'll probably supply some small wooden mallets, or other similiar pounding instraments.
Any ideas as to good material for the bench would be appreciated. I think a redwood, cedar or even steel base would be fine, but it's the top that I'd like some help with. It should remain passibly flat, resist splintering and be generally impervious to weather.
Thanks,
Alan