The construction workers laboring on the grounds of Cherry Hill School played teacher recently, laying bricks and smoothing concrete with 300-plus hard-hatted kindergartners.
The 5- and 6-year-olds’ fascination with the excavation work outside the classroom windows led to a hands-on learning experience, as groups from Schmuhl and Cherry Hill Schools gazed at construction vehicles and tried to do a little building of their own.
Children at Cherry Hill, where work has started on a new kindergarten center for New Lenox Elementary School District 122, have been eagerly watching workers and machinery since school started, said Kathie Mangun, principal of Cherry Hill and Schmuhl Schools.
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The idea of using the construction site as an outdoor classroom was something the construction company, Schal Bovis, had done before, Mangun said. “The school district felt that with all of this happening on site, it would be a good experience,” she said.
“They’ve had to watch from a distance,” she said.
The first stop on the grand tour was a big white tent, where workers from various building trades explained and demonstrated some of their skills.
Five-year-olds Craig Szpila and Murphy Hebbard smoothed square concrete surfaces with the composure of professionals, while other classmates waited their turn to press a brick onto freshly spread mortar.
They even got a shot at making their mark on the new building.
“We have a piece of steel over here that you can sign your name (on). It’ll go in the building and be there forever and ever,” foreman Dennis Schubert said.
On an end part of the tent, a table was spread with an oversize paper full of architectural drawings for children to color. Plumbers also displayed some fixtures.
Outside on the grass were a yellow steam shovel and green earth mover.
Those rugged mechanical monsters were the best part of the day for 6-year-olds Joshua Economous and Luke McGann, who wore kid-sized construction boots to go along with their hard hats.
“I liked that green thing with the huge wheels,” Joshua said.