SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Some 7th and 8th graders worked on special projects, after a week off from school.

The projects are given to Trinity at Greenlawn students every year. Seventh graders work on ancient history and 8th graders study earth and life sciences.

One student created a diorama of the Battle of Marathon. He said he spent 30 hours coming up with the finished project.

"It’s a resin mold, you can put it in Play-Doh, and you put a figure to press the shape in," said Trinity 7th grader Brandon Winfree. "You pour the chemicals together and the molecules bounce off and it heats it up."

Teachers say the projects provide students with a creative outlet, and it helps them to become more engaged with what they’re learning.