Olympic competitions, potlucks, and field trips are some highlights the geometry in construction class does. Regardless of those activities, the students said that the construction of playhouses, birdhouses, and balsa houses had them engaged, even without past construction experience. 

“Seeing kids putting math into construction. Kids are getting excited about doing math and getting to build,” geometry in construction teacher Antonio Oliver said. 

The students said that unlike other classes, they got to use the math they’d learnt in geometry and put it into real life situations. G.I.C is a double block class, so these students spent 2 hours with each other everyday.

“You meet new people, and the teachers are fun. It’s really helpful,” freshman Gracelyn Fikki said. 

Collaboration is required for geometry in construction, Oliver and second geometry in construction teacher Jake Pressler said. Students are put in groups for each construction project. 

“The most fun part about this class is the teamwork and being able to work on construction projects together, to just do math in a different way and make connections to the real world,” Pressler said. 

In geometry in construction, students used power tools such as miter saws, power drills, and snips to cut metal. Both teachers said miter saws were the “most fun to teach students how to use” because of their versatility and “intimidating appearance.”

“My favorite project that we built was the playhouses, because it was a really good test of skills and creativity, and they came out really good,” Pressler said.

In the spring, G.I.C students built playhouses that were sold to the Lee’s Summit community and delivered by Oliver and Pressler. Playhouses weren’t the only thing constructed, students said friendships were built, as well as real world experience.

“Always finding that balance and being able to provide a real world significance for everything is important,” Pressler said.