Henley Students Build for the Birds
A cross-grade construction project gave fourth-graders hands-on building experience while middle and high school students served as mentors.
Images: Henley fourth-graders built their own birdhouses last week with help from middle and high school construction students. Photos courtesy of Klamath County School District.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Henley fourth-graders traded pencils for hammers last week during a hands-on construction project that brought students from multiple grade levels together to build birdhouses.
The project paired fourth-graders with middle and high school construction students, giving younger students a chance to learn basic building skills while older students helped guide them through the process.
The project was shaped in part by a birdhouse design selected by Henley fourth-grader Teagyn Rasdal. High school students created a prototype based on the design before it was approved for production. Middle school students then cut the materials needed for 78 birdhouses.
Each fourth-grader built their own birdhouse with help from a middle or high school mentor.
Henley construction teacher Brian Palmer said the project began as a way to introduce younger students to shop classes while also giving older students a meaningful, real-world building experience. He said it also helped keep students engaged by providing a break from more traditional construction units.
“This gave the older students a purpose,” Palmer said.
The design also had a personal connection. Palmer’s wife, Kacie Palmer, is Teagyn’s teacher and had shared Teagyn’s interest in birds. That led Palmer to ask Teagyn to help choose the birdhouse design.
“My teacher asked me what kind of birdhouse would be best for birds,” Teagyn said. “I suggested this design because finches and sparrows like small, dark spaces.”
Teagyn’s interest in birds began when she was young and has grown into a hobby she shares with her family. She enjoys birdwatching at local rivers and parks, where she looks for species such as Steller’s jays, bald eagles, and American goldfinches.
“I’ve loved birds since I was really little,” she said. “They’re fascinating animals. They can fly and do so many incredible things.”
By the end of the project, each fourth-grader left with a birdhouse they built themselves.
Palmer said he hopes the collaboration will continue as an annual project across the Henley schools.
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