Davis Joint Unified School District

Mr. Hess' Firepit Project - Bright Spots

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

 

About this project
Mr. Hess' Fire Pit Project happens in the Ag Mechanics Pathway at Davis Senior High School. This Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway helps prepare students for entry-level careers or to pursue university studies in the increasingly complex and in demand work of creating and maintaining modern farming equipment. The Fire Pit Project requires students to draw upon many skills they have developed in previous courses to design a functional and aesthetically pleasing Fire Pit, within specific requirements and a time limit. The final products are judged by academic and industry professionals and scored according to a rubric.

While there are many Graduate Profile skills presents, the Fire Pit Project stands out for, its ability to foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the participating students. By requiring them to design and build a fire pit within specific constraints, students must quickly develop a plan that is ’doable’ with their current skills set and available tools and resources. They must identify and anticipate problems. They must gather information, use their reasoning to make decisions, and solve challenges that arise. One of the most exciting aspects is that this project allows students to demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving which results in a tangible and usable product. Through this hands-on experience, students develop essential skills that will be applicable to various academic and professional settings.

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Project Testimonials
“I am inspired to see how these young adults work collectively and individually to make their designs come to life. Each student asks for advice, provides feedback, and listens to alternatives. Each decision made is done collectively.”

- Alex Hess (Agriculture Teacher, Davis Senior High)

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“When you first start out, you don’t realize that straight cuts can be difficult. You’re not using a machine that can just make a straight line. So, straight cuts are a challenge, but you can do it, you just got to keep at it and analyze what you need to do differently to improve.”   

- Liam (10th Grade)

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“Students deepen their critical thinking and problem-solving skills by identifying and defining the core problem of designing and building their desired fire pit with limited resources and various constraints.  Students analyze their skills, make independent & group decisions under pressure, and creatively overcome challenges to achieve a functional and aesthetically pleasing product. Students demonstrating competency through hands-on real-world application is pretty wonderful.”

- Alex Hess (Agriculture Teacher, Davis Senior High)