| |
In our Foundation sponsored
programs, youth in grades K-12 explore construction careers and
technical classes. We aim to engage kids, their teachers and
their parents, to learn the benefits of training for smart,
exciting and good-wage construction careers. We work with
schools and community programs to give youth hands-on experience
with construction projects, and a chance to meet and work with
construction professionals. Our active projects around
Washington include:
Programs
|
Elementary
School |
|
|
Block Kids
(Legos) |
|
|
Tool Box |
|
|
Puff
Mobile |
|
Woodland
Park Camp
Summer 2006
 |
Gumdrop
Dome |
|
|
Hoop
Glider |
|
Middle
School: |
|
|
How Cool
is the Hammer?
Read this!
 |
“If I Had
a Hammer” Program
Fifth
graders can build a house – in 2 hours! In this
awesome, hands-on construction experience, we divide
youth into teams, assign safety glasses, hammers and
nails and give them a unique chance to build an 8 ft. X
11 ft. house from a pre-fab kit. They learn construction
math, safety principles and a bit of teamwork.
If I Had a Hammer integrates the learning of academic
subject matter with a fun, hands-on activity, combining
a construction team activity with a classroom
curriculum.
The Hammer class
features several scheduled “Build Breaks” during which
the Hammer “Boss” speaks with the students about a
variety of topics including:
-
The importance of
mathematics in life
-
How to calculate
-
Area
-
Perimeter
-
Volume
-
How to Measure
-
Why it is important
to build your life on a good foundation
-
Why making good
choices is important, especially where drugs and
gangs are concerned
-
Work ethic and career
goals
The
finished product — a free-standing house complete with
windows, door and a front porch — is the result of
teamwork, communication and the real-life application of
math and science concepts. Students also build
self-esteem and experience a powerful sense of
accomplishment that comes through hard work. To build
the house and work through the classroom curriculum,
students must come to an understanding of math concepts,
functions and processes. The way students become engaged
in the project teaches them valuable skills each step of
the way — from adding fractions to measuring a room or
factoring sales tax into a budget.
Schedule :
We schedule the Hammer each Friday in Seattle,
and have developed a “Road” Hammer”. Contact
Derek Sparks for more information, 206 284-4500.
Hammer Video Link
http://www.ifihadahammer.com/Foundation_Videos.asp |
|
High
School |
|
|
Yakima:
|
Stanton Academy in Yakima has launched their new
Construction Technology Program. During the first week
of the program, in late November, students learned shop
safety and tool identification, with eager anticipation
for their new construction lab. Bruce Mortimer, Yakima
School District CTE Director and Ben Elliott,
Stanton Academy’s Instructor, expect completion of the
program’s new lab to wrap up over the holiday break. The
AGCEF will support this new construction education
initiative with a variety of activities:
“If I
Had a Hammer” Construction Experience: AGCEF will host this popular hands-on house building
module for middle and high school youth. In this
unique two-hour class, students team up with
construction pros to assemble an eight foot by
eleven foot house kit, complete with porch, roof,
windows and a door, while learning safety, teamwork
and construction math.
“Introductory Craft Skills” Textbook:
The Foundation will provide this Core Curriculum
textbook from the National Center for Construction
Education and Research (NCCER).
Community Outreach & Industry Involvement: AGCEF staff members Derek Sparks, Careers
Coordinator and Leanne Liddicoat, Executive
Director, and AGC Central District Manager Brian
McGuire, have begun engaging local construction
professionals and community partners in the startup
process. Their outreach efforts, part of AGCEF’s
get smart Kids program, will include career
fairs and a teachers Math camp, “Blueprint for
Success”, to build interest in smart construction
careers and to provide classroom teaching resources.
The
AGC Education Foundation’s investment comes from
a grant from its get smart Scholars program,
which underwrites construction education programs and
scholarships at Washington high schools, colleges and
technical schools.
To
volunteer as a construction leader for the Stanton
program, or other construction career promotions around
Washington, please contact Derek Sparks, Careers
Coordinator, 206 284-4500, or by email,
dsparks@agcwa.com.
|
|
|
Construction Week: October
16 – 20, 2006
Eighty smart and excited 8th and 9th grade
students from Toppenish, White Swan, Wapato, and Tribal experienced our “If I had a Hammer” construction
learning program this fall at the Winter Lodge in
Yakima. At this community event, “Hammer”
participants built an 8 foot by 11 foot house kit in 2
hours, working with volunteers from the local construction
industry.
The popular “Hammer” program gave youth valuable hands-on
experience with
-
Handling tools safely
-
Reading construction Plans
-
Calculating construction math problems
-
Working as a team to finish a project
-
Connecting career choice to economic empowerment
Students
from each school competed for one of 20 coveted slots on
their school’s “Hammer” team by submitting an essay
describing why they want to participate. Teachers judged
the essays and selected 80 Hammer participants. To learn more
about “If I Had a Hammer” and Construction Week, contact
Derek Sparks for more information - 206.812.0804. |
|
Kitsap:
|
|
|
South Kitsap High School
Program
Builds Houses and
Skills!
2006 South Kitsap PTE Rotary
House Nears Completion |
AGCEF
will support this ongoing program this year by funding
equipment and materials. South Kitsap High School’s
Professional and Technical Education (PTE) Program
partners with the Port Orchard Rotary and
get smart Kids to design and build a custom
house each year. About one hundred eager SK students
from nearly all the PTE classes – Computer Aided Design
(CAD), Construction, Cabinet Making, Landscaping, and
Computer Technology and Networking – team up with
experienced contractors to build a better-than-average
house, implementing many construction “tools” in the
process. This successful program trains over 100
students each year in a wide variety of construction
skills. Benefits to the students include:
-
Learn the complexity
and physical work involved in home-building.
-
Collaborate with
other teams at a real-world job site.
-
Work with
construction experts on the job.
-
Earn high school
credits towards graduation.
-
Acquire highly
marketable construction skills.
-
Gain entrepreneurial
experience.
-
Contribute to a
self-sustaining PTE program, where the sold
completed house helps fund next year’s project.
-
Earn pride in a job
well-done!
|
|
Student Resources |
|
|
|
-
Test Yourself on our
Math Puzzler!
Click
Here for the Solution to the Math Puzzler.
|
|
|
-
Scholarship Opportunities for Washington students in
construction education programs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
School & Teacher Resources
 |
Coming
Soon! BLUEPRINT
FOR SUCCESS – Construction Math Initiative
Got math?
AGCEF will partner with the
Construction Center for Excellence at Renton Technical
College and the Transition Math Project to provide
middle and high school math teachers with professional
development opportunities and classroom resources. This
exciting initiative - “Blueprint for Success” -
will offer these free activities:
Western Washington
·
Half-day In-Service Math
workshops: Renton, May 1
·
Five-Day Construction Math
Institute: Pierce County, June 25-29
·
“Math
Toolbox” – Classroom resources
including lesson plans,
instructional
guides and career planning materials.
Register
NOW at:
http://www.rtc.edu/CommunityResources/CCE/
If you are a School District,
Technical College, University or Community Organization
and would like to host a Math Workshop, please contact
dsparks@agcwa.com. |
|
|
§ Grants –
To school & community programs that promote
construction careers
§ Program
Assistance – Launch a
Construction Program at your
school!
§
Recruiting
assistance for construction
programs
|
|
