This lesson is for : Grade 4:
Summary
3D modeling and printing has gone from science fiction to reality. Through the use of 3D printing and modeling teachers and students have begun to interact with academic material in a new profound way. Students can now take an idea and make it reality with the push of a button. The students in this fourth grade classroom used the tools available to first create their own bedrooms and then a to scale model of their classroom. The students used Tinkercad to design their products and then utilized a 3D printer to bring their creations to life. Throughout the lesson the teacher and students focused on how using these tools directly related to specific math concepts covered in class. Through the use of these tools students experienced a deeper understanding and learning that would otherwise be impossible.
TIPC Ratings
Research & Information Fluency
Rating: Ideal – Explanation: Students used a variety of sources to complete this projects. Experts such as Jim Lehman from the MathScience Innovation Center and Mr. Cole educated students on 3D printing as well as architecture. The students also used nonfiction text to gain new information about 3D printing as well as Vincent Van Gogh. The students then synthesized this new knowledge to create multiple digital and physical representations of their rooms.
Communication & Collaboration
Rating: Ideal – Explanation: The students communicated and collaborated with each other throughout the duration of the project. Even when the activities were independent the students worked with one another to troubleshoot or brainstorm new and innovative ways to solve problems. The students also collaborated with experts, Jim Lehman of the MathScience Innovation Center and Mr. Cole who is an architect. The students also collaborated over Google Drive/Docs to share their work and progress with the class.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Rating: Ideal – Explanation: Students used physical and digital tools to promote critical thinking and problem solving. In art the students chose the most appropriate way to construct the 3D models, as well as what materials were needed to construct their models. The students also used Google Docs to share areas where they were stuck when 3D modeling. The ITRT and other students assisted as needed to give advice or help.
Creativity & Innovation
Rating: Ideal – Explanation: Using the knowledge gained through research and experts in the field the students created 3D representations of their rooms in Tinkercad and used a 3D printer to print them. The students then took to the challenge of making a to scale 3D representation of the classroom using Tinkercad and a 3D printer.
Student Artifact
Lesson Materials
