In Mr. Ciaccio’s eighth grade construction arts class, students are developing real-world skills while giving back to the community through a hands-on project creating napkin holders for local veterans. The project began with students constructing a napkin holder individually, allowing them to experience the time, precision and problem-solving required to complete a single piece.  

After completing their individual projects, students collectively decided that their finished work should be donated to a local veteran’s organization. As part of that decision, students used a laser engraver to design and engrave a special message on each piece, reading “Thank you to our veterans,” with an American flag. 

Students then worked together in production stations that mirrored real-world manufacturing environments. Stations included laser engraving, quality control and finishing. Through collaboration and clearly defined roles, students were able to dramatically increase efficiency, thus producing two napkin holders in less than five minutes, compared with the nearly three weeks it took to complete one individually. 

Once the napkin holders were completed, students participated in a bucket brigade, passing each item hand to hand to collect, inspect and box the pieces for donation. The activity was intentionally modeled after the bucket brigades used during the Sept. 11 attacks, reinforcing lessons of unity, service and collective responsibility. 

Students reflected on the experience, sharing that working in the shop and outside of a traditional classroom setting felt therapeutic and brought them closer together. “We enjoy working together,” one student shared. “It brings us closer.” 

Mr. Ciaccio guided students throughout the project, using each step as an opportunity to share meaningful lessons about craftsmanship, teamwork and giving back. Through his leadership, students not only learned technical skills in design, production and quality control, but also experienced the importance of using their skills to serve others.