Local News - April 2003

Students build a cardboard chair

High-tech feat

By JEREMY ASHTON, LTN Staff Writer

Tammy Johnson and John Davis give the students in their three fundamentals of technology classes at West Lincoln High School a simple challenge.

All the students have to do is construct a chair capable of supporting their teacher’s weight.

All they have to complete that task are two supplies — cardboard and masking tape.

“It’s a good hands-on project,” Johnson said. “Instead of just standing up and teaching, they learn so much more just by doing.”

For this assignment in the introductory vocational education class, the students, divided into groups of two or three, had to design a chair drawn to specifications. The designs then had to be approved by Johnson or Davis.

Each chair has to meet certain height requirements for the seat and backrest. They will be judged based on the effectiveness of their design and, ultimately, how well they can support a person’s weight.

Beginning Tuesday, the students get three days to build their chairs using as much masking tape or cardboard, donated by Packaging Unlimited in Lincolnton, as they want.

As some of the students finished their first day of work in West’s old cafeteria, a wide variety of designs emerged.

Luke Dellinger, Garrett Ingle and Richard Riffle made their seat with a triangular design for sturdiness. The tall, wide back had already been attached with a flap on the top “to stop the rain,” Dellinger said.

On the opposite side of the room, J.R. Gay and Steven Shinkovich’s design looked more like a normal chair, utilizing a square seat with legs of taped, folded cardboard at each corner. The seat will eventually have another support in the middle with an adjustable backrest and a separate leg rest.

Like many of the other students, the flimsy materials left Gay and Shinkovich pining for something more durable.

“It’s going to be a big challenge,” Shinkovich said. “If it were duct tape, it would be much easier.”

While others went with triangles and squares for the seats, Ben Powell, Shaina McCraw and Haley Boyles opted for a cylindrical design.

For extra support, Powell said the three employed a “secret weapon,” a long piece of tightly wrapped, heavily taped cardboard attached to the bottom of the seat.

The seat already passed inspection Tuesday, holding up each of the group members and Johnson.

“(The students) have done a great job with it, and they really enjoy it,” Johnson said.

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Staff Writer Jeremy Ashton can be reached at 704-735-3031 or jashton@ltnews.com.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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