It's a lesson in delayed gratification, an application of creativity, and a workshop in teamwork and leadership.
Eighth-graders at Buena Vista Elementary School in Auburn, Wash., were all onboard with a quarter-long railroad construction project. Twenty students built an H-O scale structure around their classroom and spent 600 man-hours constructing track, assembling residential, commercial and industrial buildings, and painstakingly adding the details to make the set-up look authentic.
"It is great fun for the students to create the whole thing and see what can be accomplished as a team," said teacher Scott Spies. "There's no better way to learn."
Students crafted résumés, interviewed for the railroad jobs, earned "money," and maintained a "bank account." They spelled railroad-related words; applied math concepts; researched black powder, nitroglycerin, and granite; and learned the history of the transcontinental railroad.
As a result of interviewing for her railroad foreman job, Emily Fletcher was ready, with résumé in hand, for a real job interview. "I had two interviews in one week," she said.
Already, kids in the lower grades are anticipating their train-building turn. Kyle Bahnsen has these words of advice: "Pay attention to detail. It's worth the time."
Eighth-grader Kyle Bahnsen tweaks a last-minute detail in the residential district before the train open house begins.
Students in lower grades look forward to their chance to build their train once they get to eighth grade. Teacher Scott Spies says the set-up gets bigger and better each year as new pieces are added.
Three eighth-graders decorate their papier-mâché mountain range with powdered herbs.
Student Kyle Bahnsen watches as teacher Scott Spies powers up the trains. Students contributed 600 man-hours to make their train set-up look authentic.
