Tiny Home, Big Learning

By Rachel Frost, Region 10 ESC Director of Communications

KEMP HIGH SCHOOL student Tanner Huth has big plans for his future; he dreams of one day owning his own construction company. This big dream was inspired by a not-so-tiny “tiny home” project that was assigned as part of the Geometry in Construction class during the 2021-2022 school year.

“My initial reaction to us building a tiny house was very surprising to me. I thought we were going to build stuff like a bench, a little shed, or even patio furniture,” Huth explained. “I would have never thought we were building a tiny house, which made me excited.”

Plans for the project were already in the works when Mitchell Park, Kemp High School Geometry in Construction teacher, was hired to lead the project. He and his students had a shared sense of excitement about the opportunity to build a tiny home.

“When told that I would be the teacher in charge of the project, I could not accept the position fast enough,” Mr. Park said. “The students loved the idea of getting real world experience along with their math credit. I do think that a few students found the project a little daunting, but they did not back down.”

From design to construction, the students took ownership of the project with guidance from Mr. Park along the way. Mr. Park shared that it was when the walls started going up that the students really understood exactly what they were accomplishing.

Along the way, the students had to overcome quite a few obstacles. From product shortages to severe weather conditions, students experienced real world issues that taught them how to adjust, be flexible, and develop a new plan that would work. After five months of construction, the tiny home was ready to hit the market.

The revenue from the sale of the tiny home is currently funding the program’s second tiny home project.

“I am very excited to have more time this year, which will allow for a deeper understanding of how math intertwines with the construction,” Mr. Park said. “I hope our students come away from this project understanding that sometimes - I wish that I could get them to say all the time - their math teachers are correct, math really is useful and needed in life.”

PROUD SUPPORTER OF KEMP ISD PROGRAM

Buyer Chris Bell was in the market for a tiny home to add to his 50 acre property in east Texas when he learned about the Kemp ISD tiny home project.

“We already have one tiny home that we rent out as an Airbnb, so this was a great opportunity to add another one,” Bell said.

For Bell, the price was right at $24,000 and he was happy to support the Kemp ISD construction program.

“I think the construction program is an awesome opportunity for the students,” Bell shared. “Students learn so much more when the learning is hands-on.”