The next time the Carl Sandburg High School girls’ varsity softball team takes the field, the players will step into brand-new dugouts built not by contractors, but by their classmates.
Students enrolled in the school’s Math in Construction course are taking on their most ambitious project yet: designing and constructing full-scale dugouts for the varsity softball field. Two years in the making, the project blends math and craftsmanship, giving students a chance to apply classroom concepts to a real-world challenge.
Working from their own blueprints, students modeled the dugouts to fit the field’s space and dimensions. Every measurement and angle required careful math, from calculating slopes and square footage to using trigonometry to ensure the walls are perfectly square.
Students commented on how much they enjoy the hands-on learning experience, saying it helps them better understand math outside of the traditional classroom setting.
Math in Construction teacher Scott Friedericks said the project required both creativity and planning.
“We’ve had to sequence our classes around the dugouts so students learn the math needed for the upcoming construction,” Friedericks said. “They’ve gone from reading and understanding blueprints to actual framing.”
The course emphasizes teamwork as much as technical precision. Each week, students develop a plan of attack and divide responsibilities across different class periods. While first-period students handle setup, those in eighth period focus on cleanup. Between classes, students brief one another on progress and upcoming tasks.
With only a limited number of tools, organization has been key. “Everyone cannot be working all at the same time,” Friedericks said. “We take turns or have the students assisting each other. For example, if we are using the framing nailer to hang sheets, we only have one nail gun, so not everyone can be nailing at the same time.”
Friedericks said the 18 to 20 students in the class are learning more than math and construction. “They learn to collaborate and problem solve, which is just as important as taking your turn with the framing nailer,” he said.
Carl Sandburg High School Athletic Director Steve Shanz said the dugouts represent more than just an athletic upgrade. “These new lower-level softball dugouts are a tremendous addition to our athletic facilities and a great example of what makes Sandburg special,” Shanz said. “Having our Math in Construction classes design and build them not only enhances the experience for our student-athletes, but also shows the real-world impact of our students’ learning and collaboration across programs.”
Principal Dr. Derrick Smith said watching the project come to life has been rewarding for everyone involved. “It’s been amazing to witness this project progress from the planning stages to full completion of the dugouts,” Smith said. “We are so appreciative of the great work of our teachers and students.”
Math in Construction is a dual-credit course co-taught by math and technology teachers. It integrates math and engineering principles while offering hands-on experience that counts toward both math and career and technical education credits.
As the softball season approaches, the students’ hard work is nearly complete, and the results will be easy to see when the first pitch is thrown this spring.
“When the girls take the field, our students will know they built something that’s going to last,” Friedericks said. “That’s a pretty amazing feeling.”
