Students at Oak Lawn Community High School got hooked on construction, incorporating what they learned in geometry classes to create new structures and other items around campus.

Their latest undertaking is a ticket booth for the school’s football field. They did all the work with a little help from teachers Sara Strelow, who teaches geometry, and Kyle Kowalski, a career technology educator.

The students previously had created a shed, so for the ticket booth, teachers modified the plans to add windows, and graphic design students will be recruited to design the door.

“Students were up on the roof doing electrical, painting. It’s all basic fundamentals,” Kowalski said. But it’s definitely a case of learning by doing. “You’ve got to be OK screwing up.”

Part of what’s made the class work, according to the two teachers, is the students’ motivation.

“They always do their stuff,” Strelow said. “In other classes, it’s like pulling teeth.”

“They outperformed my regular geometry class on every assessment,” Strelow said.

The two-period class starts each session in Strelow’s classroom, where students work on the math needed to construct the projects. Then they move into Kowalski’s workshop or even outside.”

Math lessons sometimes include the Pythagorean theorem with its A squared plus B squared equals C squared to help calculate angles for roofing, as well as volume and surface areas.

Kowalski said they also incorporated artificial intelligence into the process to calculate the costs of building materials.

Some of the actual construction took place at the football field.

“The school allowed us to purchase battery powered tools so they can be movable,” Kowalski said.

The class had its beginnings three years ago when math chair Chris Newton and the two teachers traveled to a conference in St. Paul, Minnesota, where the idea was presented. Then they adapted it to OLCHS, after spending a year on the planning.

Math isn’t Kowalski’s thing, nor is construction Strelow’s, and the two have completely different personalities.

Kowalski is spontaneous and Strelow says she’s very “Type A and plans everything.”

But the two make it work. Kowalski said he brings ideas to Strelow and she may put it into a document to try.

“We’re both willing to give up what we’re used to and try something different,” Strelow said.

Kowalski said he’s even taught a few of the math lessons and has taken tests with the students as a way of showing he’s part of the team.

“They kind of enjoy watching that,” he said. “They sometimes beat me.”They also learned to collaborate as a way to bring out the best in students and help them succeed.

Students get a small electrical unit in his class and also learn about drywall and plumbing. They’ve made saw horses and a miniature golf course.

The teachers are hoping to get industry professionals to speak to the students, host events and offer financial support.

There were 22 students in the class, including eight females. But the class is a popular one and enrollment has increased each year.

Once the new field house is complete, the two said they’ll be able to move their space to one of the gyms.

The class appears to be bringing out the best in many students, even the ones who aren’t pros at math or construction, according to their teachers.

“They’re all different, from AP honors, regular and even remedial,” Strelow said. “It’s interesting to see the kids you thought were going to struggle, flourish.”

Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.