Isaac Winters, an eighth grade student at the Edgartown School, quickly sawed through a plank of wood on a mission during his Industrial Arts class Wednesday.

His class is taking part in a new partnership between the town’s conservation commission to build wooden huts they will later place along Norton Point to help shelter coastal birds from predators.

“I’m learning a lot about endangered species and what to do to protect them,” Isaac said with his saw in hand.

He and his classmates sat attentively a few minutes prior and listened to a presentation from Kara Shemeth, the Edgartown conservation agent, and Isabel O’Donnell, the coastal water bird coordinator.

The pair explained to the students the importance of barrier beaches such as Norton Point, that protect Katama Bay and surrounding houses from harsh storms while providing an ecosystem for endangered or threatened coastal birds, such as piping plovers, to nest.

“These babies are about the size of a cotton ball on top of two toothpicks,” Ms. O’Donnell explained.

Each of the students will build their own hut to help protect the chicks from predators, such as the harrier hawk. The huts will have a large board positioned in front to shelter the nest from heavy winds. In the back is a smaller compartment where the nest will sit, with two holes for ventilation.

Once the wood is cut and the screws are in, the students will paint it with natural colors to help camouflage the structure on the beach.

Edgartown School principal Kate Campbell said the project will stretch over the course of several months, ending with a trip to the beach in March. She said the school’s science teacher will also participate and help enhance their hands-on experience with the broader curriculum.

The project is the first of many Ms. Campbell plans to partner with the town. She hopes it will strengthen the relationship between students and their community while also exposing them to potential career paths.

The students also learned about wildlife technicians who patrol the town beaches and look after the bird’s nests.

“One day one of them could be the next Kara,” Ms. Campbell said.

Isaac is already planning to get more involved with the town’s conservation commission.

“Honestly, when I heard them talking I was like I might go do this myself because it sounds really fun,” he said.