Alberta students at Kainai High School build tiny homes

Math, English, science and social studiesthese are the topics most of us learn in high school. But what about plumbing, carpentry or framing?

Ten students at Kainai High School are in the midst of a whole other educational experience building tiny homes from scratch.

School principalAnnette Fox-BruisedHead said the school was looking for a way to provide construction experience for their students after Merit Contractors expressed interest in providing grant money.

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"When we first looked at it, we were going to have students maybe paint the school, paint the offices, do things around the school," Fox-BruisedHead told theHomestretch.

"But we also wanted to give them some experience in electrical and plumbing and interior and roofing and things like that."

Thanks to another grant from the provincial government, the school opted to move forward with the tiny homes project.

The school plans to sell the tiny homes and put the money back into the program.

More than just construction

When RaquelBull Calf, 16, first started the tiny homes project, she was afraid of the power tools and wasn't very good at measurements.

Now, she's looking to a future in carpentry.

"Coming into this program kind of changed what I want for my future," said Bull Calf. "I want to be a carpenter."

She said the program brought her out of her shell.

"It's boosted my confidence," she said."I'm a shy person and I got out more with the people I was working with. Most of us are confident in doing some of this kind of work later on."

Fox-BruisedHead saidhearing Bull Calf say she's considering entering a trade brought tears to her eyes.

"When I hear my students say that they're looking forward to a future, it's a really important aspect of what we're doing here at Kainai High School," she said.

"We have the opportunity to change the culture of our school but we also have an opportunity to change the culture of our community, of Kainai."

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With files from the Homestretch