Rolling Meadows High School is now in its second year of offering a Geometry in Construction course, which allows students to transfer math concepts learned in the classroom to a construction setting. 

By combining these two areas, students can visually apply geometry lessons and concepts like the Pythagorean theorem to physical and tangible projects, such as circuit-making and constructing walls, said instructors Dave Wietrzak and Brett Olson.

“The application is the biggest thing,” said Olson. “They see (the geometry concepts) visually when they’re hands-on.”

Since the school year began, students have built circuits and bathrooms using a variety of tools and geometry lessons. Their knowledge will be applied to an even larger project going forward – the students will help build the home US Army SPC Anthony Chobanov, who suffers from PTSD and a traumatic brain injury.

On a recent afternoon, the class gathered to read about Chobanov before working in groups to connect wires to outlets, circuits and switches. Buffalo Grove students will also help build the walls for Chobanov’s new home in the far northwest suburbs.

Students in the class have already expressed an interest in construction trades and learning about different career pathways in District 214. At Rolling Meadows, educators hope to expand the Geometry in Construction course to two sections next school year.