Students helping students; Racine high schoolers design eco-friendly playground for neighboring elementary school

RACINE, (CBS 58) -- Racine high schoolers are putting their thinking caps on to create an eco-friendly playground for their younger peers.

Case senior high school students have been working on a year-long engineering project aimed to create a playground made by recyclable material for Goodland Montessori Elementary.

"I think it’s the best way to learn to be hands-on with a real-world project," said Kate Buchholz, teacher at Case High School and supervisor of the project.

On Thursday, students 3D printed three of their top designs picked by the elementary school students. Soon, one of the three designs will be picked by Goodland Montessori Elementary to be built on school grounds.

"We will bring these 3D designs back to our Goodland Montessori students and they will get a chance to vote on their favorite and hopefully that will work out," said Lisa Johnson, Principal at Goodland Montessori Elementary.

For one engineer, the hands-on experience elevates the learning experience.

"Its awesome because you see how your work, how it's acting in the real world. You're not just working in class creating document, it's you creating something," said Matilde Llacer, student at Case High School.

For Buchholz, it's about seeing her students shine.

"It’s what's really cool about being a teacher, you get to see all these aha moments as they happen," said Buchholz.

The students are expected to wrap up the project in the spring time.