One Laurel School District teacher is taking creativity to a whole new level.

Ralph James, Industrial Maintenance Instructor at the Laurel High School Career Technical Center, is taking industrial skills and creating life lessons.

James, along with class assistant, Dawn Ishee, are guiding students through class projects and allowing the students to create and design items using the skills they have learned.

One of the most well known creations of the class is the bottle tree.

“My wife was my inspiration,” said James. “ She wanted one and so I made one and went from there.”

James took his design to the classroom in 2007 and soon students were making their own bottle trees to take home to family members. In the class, students fine tune their math skills while learning technical skills such as welding and construction.

“It’s very rewarding to find students who are interested in making things in class,” said James.

Bottle trees are a traditional Southern garden accessory. Made of round steel bar or rebar, trees are constructed to resemble a small tree with several branches extending from its trunk. The tree is usually displayed in yards and gardens and don colored glass bottles.

Bottle trees have taken on different roles throughout various cultures. Some cultures have used the bottle tree to attract evil spirits. Supposedly the evil spirits get caught in the bottles and can no longer cause harm. Other cultures use the bottle tree as a garden ornament and accessory. Trees can be constructed in various sizes and designs.

After gaining popularity around the school and community, James realized his students were creating a product that the public was really interested in. The class set up a booth at Day in the Park and the funds raised went to benefit the Skills USA club and buy tools and supplies for the classroom.

The industrial maintenance class has also created jack-o-lanterns from used freon tanks, and used rebar and round steel bar to create wire pumpkins, stars, trellis, flower pot hangers, citronella bucket stands and two kinds of shepherd hooks, free standing and staked.

Christmas lights can be affixed to the stars and hung on buildings and in trees. In fact, the Mason Park Christmas Light display features many of the stars created by LHS students.

“With this type of skill students learn that they can build and sell but also fall back on it in life,” said James.

Students take the skills, such as problem solving, teamwork, etc., and apply it to everyday life.

James said he hopes to keep adding new projects in the future. His class plans to build cedar bird houses this year as well as design art pieces for the 2009 Day in the Park exhibit. He also hopes to have a class website up and running soon with photos of students projects and ways to order items.