The Votes Are In!
2023 Readers' Choice is back, bigger and better than ever!
View Winners → 
Kranz Intermediate School Students Participate in Small Engine Rebuilding Class
Arcadia Weekly Jun 30, 2015
by
share with
– Courtesy Photos
As part of the Project Lead The Way program at Kranz Intermediate School, students had the opportunity to participate in a Small Engine Rebuilding class. Led by teacher Tim Otters, the students learned how to use precision tools to rebuild a Kohler Courage XT engine.
The engines were donated to the class by Rio Hondo College, which offers a degree in Small Engine Rebuild. The curriculum for the class was developed by Otters and enabled the students to get a real world perspective of the intricacies of engines.
“As they worked to rebuild the engines, the students realized that being precise with their tools and measurements are essential,” said Otters. “Even being just 1/1000 of an inch off makes a difference of whether the engine will work or not. The students did a great job handling the tools and learning the vast vocabulary that comes with engine rebuilding.”
Learning about and assembling the muffler, crank shaft, carburetor, coil magnets and sparks plugs, the students took their jobs very seriously.
“I liked learning how to build an engine,” said Joseph, a 7th grader. “We got to use a lot of different tools which was cool.”
“Working on the engine was fun,” said 7th grader Izabella as she attached the muffler to the engine. “It’s a really good skill to have.”
Mr. Otters was instrumental in bringing the class to Kranz and is thankful to Rio Hondo College for their donation of the engines. To accommodate the tools and engines, he built engine stands, a tool shed and storage cubbies for the engine parts.
“There are a variety of fields students can go into that require the skills they are learning in this class,” said Otters. “I encourage them to research other fields because the techniques and knowledge they are gaining can be taken elsewhere to other fields. There are always other options if they don’t want to do the actual engine rebuilding. Whether your skills are high or low, there is always something to do in this field and always room for advancement.”
Jason, a 7th grader, was thankful his school offered the engine rebuilding class. “I learned a lot in this class and it was fun. I hope to continue to do something in this field when I’m older.”
In addition to the Small Engine Rebuilding class, Mr. Otters teaches a 3-D Design and Modeling class where students create projects on the computer and print it on the school’s 3-D printer.
“I’m very excited to have the 3-D printer and to teach the Design and Modeling class,” said Otters. “There is a huge need for skilled labor workers and tons of jobs available in STEM fields. I’m very excited we have the STEM classes here at Kranz because STEM is where jobs are today and where job growth will be in the future.”
Project Lead The Way, the nation’s leading provider of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs, will continue at Kranz Intermediate School providing a curriculum that challenges and inspires students as they engage in rigorous and relevant experiences through activity-based, project-based, and problem-based learning. Classes in Design and Modeling and Automation and Robotics allow students to use industry-leading technology to solve problems while gaining skills in communication, collaboration, critical-thinking, and creativity. The overall goal of Project Lead The Way is to provide students the skills they need to succeed in the global economy.
