CMS students ‘manufacture’ board games

COLUMBUS -- This manufacturing class isn’t just about learning how to use a few power tools.

Students at Columbus Middle School are learning how to run their own business, from coming up with an idea to producing it and selling the product.

Instructor Joe Krysl wanted to incorporate more into his manufacturing class than just woodworking. That is why a new project was introduced this year.

Students were asked to create board games, write the rules and market the games.

In the past, Krysl said the class would usually focus on woodworking projects like making shelves and the introduction of power tools.

“It was based more toward a hobby instead of a business or a career,” Krysl said.

This new project, though, utilizes different skills, like writing and math, to meet the new manufacturing curriculum.

“If you open up Monopoly or Sorry or any game on the Wal-Mart shelves, it have instructions in it. There is a lot of math skills used to make one of these,” Krysl said.

Developing all those skills also will help students as they decide what careers they may want to pursue, Krysl said.

The two sections of his manufacturing classes have been spending this quarter producing games Peg Attack and Hardball. They had brainstorming sessions to come up with ideas for games, then narrowed the choices.

The group making Peg Attack said it has been learning how businesses work, said eighth-grader Adam Widhalm. They have created 30 games so far and have sold about five over the last four days. The 14 students have a goal of each selling at least three games.

Eighth-grader Dylan Hoover said what he is enjoying most about the project is being able to create the games himself.

The students work at different stations during class time to produce the games, just like they would at a manufacturing plant. Precut pieces of wood are drilled with 64 holes and then sanded. The edges are routed and then each piece is inspected before it is painted and covered with a finish. The holes are drilled again and then each game is bagged for sale.

The students have been trying their hands at sales as well. They have put ads for the games in the school newspaper, but also have been trying to sell the games outside of school.