Fourth graders at Jackson Heights Elementary School in Glens Falls traded in their tablets and notebooks for hammers and nails.

Matthew Whitbeck, CEO of Whitbeck Construction, guided them in the building of toolboxes, which is also a metaphor for the skills they’re learning.

February is Career and Technical Education Month, which is a time to recognize the importance of the trades and the need to fill important roles. The hands-on lesson underscores the math and science concepts they’re learning each day, and it helps to build their confidence.

Hear what the students thought of the lesson, and see the finished products, by watching the video of Mark Mulholland’s story.