Page 11 - MTWISummer2024

CTE / Construction
Teaching Today Wisconsin | Summer/Back to School 2024 Page 11

PHS Wood Processes Final Construction Projects

choose the type of wood they use. To use dif- With different classes and study halls,
ferent types of wood they would have to pay many students spend time in other classes
the school for the wood they need. To deter- to get their work done. “I like having wood
mine how much they owe, they use a formula processes and furniture making, because I
(length x width x thickness/144) and then mul- can learn how to be accurate and it helps with
tiply that by the cost of wood per every board getting work done,” said junior Corbin Drees-
foot. Wasmer. With constant work time, students
The final project represents more than aim to finish their projects.
just a design or project. “At the start of the Consisting of varying projects, there are
semester, I give students a drawing/plan, and different difficulties. “Different projects show
over the semester I hope the students can learn what students can do and how well they can
to develop the skills to make their drawings make it depending on how easy or difficult
and plans as well as make the projects,” said it can be and it also shows the abilities and
wood processes teacher Ken Odekirk. With talents of students,” Mr. Odekirk said.
class time learning these skills, students will Some students are making their projects
learn about how to create and plan projects. specific to what they want to learn more about.
The students had from Dec. 19, 2023, “I’m making a wood bowl because I want to
until Jan. 18, 2024, to work on their projects. learn more and improve my skills on the wood
Without a teacher-designed plan, the students lathe,” said senior Tyler Shallue. The wood
get free reign in class and have to use their lathe spins wood so the wood can be cut and
time management. With larger projects, many made into circular and spherical objects and
students use time outside of class to continue can also be used to make bowls and mugs.
their progress. Article and photos reprinted from Hi-
The first thing students come up with is Lights, the Plymouth High School student
Gabe Meredith, staff teaches students the basics of woodworking.
Hi-Lights (student newspaper) Throughout the semester, there have been a plan and the cost amount and then they end newspaper.
Plymouth High School many projects that they have to follow plans up starting to cut their boards. Once the boards
are properly cut and sized, they are assembled
Most classes have specific guidelines to build. For their final project, the students to match the student’s design plan and they can
and final projects that students must follow are able to make whatever they want using the use the joining method of their choice. Once plymouth.k12.wi.us
without flaw, but not every class is like that. techniques they have learned. completely assembled, the project is sanded
Wood Processes is an introductory class that For this project, students get to choose and then finished with stain or polyurethane.
the design of their project and they get to

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