Rocky Mountain Middle School CTE students build skills one chair at a time

Students in the RMMS Career and Technical Education program are learning hands-on skills this semester by building full-size 2×4 wooden chairs from the ground up.

Under the guidance of CTE instructor Aric Hanusa, middle school students are learning how to safely use tools, read plans, work with partners and problem-solve through a project that balances structure with personal choice.

“Middle school kids are building these chairs, learning how to use the miter saw and assembling everything themselves,” Hanusa said. “They’re learning real shop skills, but they’re also learning how to think through a design.”

Hanusa said the project begins with three chair designs of different sizes and styles. Students test each one before deciding which version fits them best.

“We call it the Goldilocks principle,” he said. “They try all three chairs and decide which one is just right. Then they choose which one they want to build.”

The class meets twice a day, once in first period and again in fifth period, and students work in pairs while each builds their own chair.

Seventh grader Mason Haslem and eighth grader Kaden Baker said the project has already taught them important safety and construction skills.

“We’re learning how to use a compound miter saw,” Haslem said. “You have to keep your hands back and make sure the board is against the fence.”

Baker added that they are also learning fastening techniques, including pocket-hole screws, which allow pieces to be joined at angles for added strength.

While not every chair is finished yet, Hanusa said that is part of the process.

“They’re learning patience, teamwork and how to do things the right way,” he said. “That matters more than rushing to be done.”

By the end of the unit, every student will leave with a finished chair and a better understanding of both shop safety and problem-solving, skills that extend far beyond the classroom.