[DL18] Collaborative Design

M3D DesignLab DesignLab Grade 1
1

Session 8: “Designing Our Dream Playground in TinkerCad - Part 1”

Architect:
Syed Shayaan Haider - Markhor3D

Learning Objectives

In this session, the students will:

  • Collaborate in Pairs: Work together to brainstorm and design simple playground equipment.
  • Express Creativity and Imagination: Generate ideas and sketch designs for their dream playground equipment.
  • Develop Basic Digital Skills: Begin modeling their designs in TinkerCad using basic shapes.
  • Understand Basic Concepts of 3D Modeling: Recognize how shapes combine to create more complex structures.
  • Build Confidence with Technology: Strengthen familiarity with TinkerCad and digital creation.

Teaching Aids

Required Materials:

  • Computers or Tablets:

    • One per pair of students, with TinkerCad already logged in and ready to use.
    • Preferably touch-screen devices for easier interaction.

  • TinkerCad Accounts:

    • Use pre-logged-in accounts from previous sessions.
    • Ensure each pair can access TinkerCad.

  • Paper and Pencils:

    • For sketching ideas during brainstorming.

  • Visual Aids:

  • Teacher’s Guide:

    • Basic steps on how to create playground equipment in TinkerCad (provided in the Additional Notes section).

  • Assistants or Volunteers (optional):

    • Additional adults to help guide students during the session.

Structure and Lesson Plan (Total Time: 50 minutes)

1. Introduction and Inspiration (5 minutes)

  • Greet the Students:

    • “Hello, everyone! Are you excited to design our dream playground today?”

  • Introduce the Theme:

    • “Today, we’ll be working together to create our own playground equipment like slides, swings, seesaws, and monkey bars!”

  • Show Visual Aids:

  • Explain the Activity:

    • “You’ll work with a partner to imagine and sketch your own playground equipment, and then we’ll start making them in TinkerCad!”

2. Pair Formation and Idea Brainstorming (15 minutes)

  • Form Pairs:

    • Pair up students, considering friendships and balancing skills.

  • Distribute Paper and Pencils:

    • Give each pair a sheet of paper and pencils.

  • Brainstorming Session:

    • “Take some time to talk with your partner about what playground equipment you’d like to design.”
    • Prompts:
      • “What is your favorite playground equipment?”
      • “Can you think of a new, imaginative piece of equipment?”
      • “How can you make it unique or special?”

  • Sketching Ideas:

    • “Draw a simple picture of your playground equipment idea.”
    • Encourage students to label parts or write down any special features.

  • Teacher and Assistant Support:

    • Move around the room to assist pairs.
    • Ask Open-Ended Questions:
      • “What makes your design special?”
      • “How will children play on your equipment?”
    • Offer suggestions if pairs are struggling with ideas.

3. Hands-On Modeling in TinkerCad (25 minutes)

  • Guidelines and Expectations:

    • “Use the shapes in TinkerCad to start building your playground equipment.”

  • Encourage Use of Basic Shapes:

    • Remind students of the basic shapes available: boxes, cylinders, spheres, wedges, etc.
    • “Think about how you can use these shapes to make your design.”

  • Teacher and Assistant Support:

    • Note: Since there is no live demonstration, refer to the Teacher’s Guide (provided below) for basic steps to assist students.

    • Move around the room to help pairs individually.

    • Areas of Assistance:

      • Navigating TinkerCad interface.
      • Adding and manipulating shapes.
      • Resizing and positioning shapes.
      • Grouping shapes.

  • Encourage Creativity:

    • “Feel free to experiment with different shapes and see what works best for your design!”
    • “Remember, it’s okay if it doesn’t look exactly like your drawing—have fun with it!”

  • Reminders:

    • “Save your work frequently.”
    • “If you need help, raise your hand.”

4. Saving Designs and Preparing for Next Session (3 minutes)

  • Saving Designs:

    • “Let’s make sure to save our designs so we can continue working on them next time.”

  • Explain the Plan:

    • “In our next class, we’ll finish our designs and prepare them for printing!”

5. Conclusion and Preview of Next Session (2 minutes)

  • Summarize the Session:

    • “Great work today! You came up with wonderful ideas and started building them in TinkerCad.”

  • Express Excitement:

    • “I’m excited to see how your designs develop in our next class!”

  • Closing Encouragement:

    • “You all did an amazing job collaborating and being creative!”

Additional Notes for the Teacher

Preparation:

  1. Guide to TinkerCad (link to separate document)

  • TinkerCad Setup:

    • Ensure all devices are logged into TinkerCad and ready to use.

  • Visual Aids:

    • Prepare images of playground equipment for inspiration.

  • Materials Ready:

    • Have paper and pencils available for brainstorming.

  • Teacher’s Guide:

    • Familiarize yourself with the basic steps for creating playground equipment in TinkerCad (see below).

Teacher’s Guide: Basic Steps for Creating Playground Equipment in TinkerCad

Note: Use these steps to assist students as needed. Adjust explanations based on individual student needs.

1. Slides:

  • Base Ramp:

    • Drag a Box shape onto the workplane.
    • Resize it to be long and flat, creating the slide’s ramp.

  • Steps:

    • Use smaller Box shapes to create steps.
    • Stack them at one end of the ramp.

  • Safety Rails (Optional):

    • Use thin Cylinder shapes for rails.
    • Position them along the sides of the ramp.

  • Grouping:

    • Select all shapes and Group them to make one object.

2. Swings:

  • Frame:

    • Use Box shapes to create the sides and top beam of the swing set.
    • Arrange them in an upside-down ‘U’ shape.

  • Seats:

    • Use a small Box or Cylinder for the seat.

  • Chains/Ropes:

    • Use thin Cylinder shapes to connect the seat to the top beam.
    • You can also use thread to join the seats to the frame everything does not need to be 3D printed!

  • Grouping:

    • Select all shapes and Group them.

3. Seesaws:

  • Plank:

    • Use a long Box shape for the seesaw’s plank.

  • Fulcrum (Base):

    • Use a Triangle Wedge or Cylinder shape for the base.

  • Handles (Optional):

    • Add small Cylinder shapes at each end for handles.

  • Grouping:

    • Align the plank on top of the base and Group all shapes.

4. Monkey Bars:

  • Frame:

    • Use Box shapes to create the vertical posts.

  • Bars:

    • Use Cylinder shapes for the horizontal bars.

  • Arrangement:

    • Position the bars evenly across the top between the posts.

  • Grouping:

    • Select all shapes and Group them.

Tips for Assisting Students:

  • Encourage Experimentation:

    • Let students try different shapes and arrangements.

  • Simplify Shapes:

    • If students are struggling, suggest using basic shapes to represent parts.

  • Alignment Tools:

    • For advanced students, introduce the Align tool to position shapes precisely.

Key Vocabulary

  • Brainstorming: Thinking of many ideas about a topic.
  • Sketch: A simple, quick drawing.
  • Modeling: Creating a representation of an object in a digital environment.
  • 3D Shapes: Objects that have length, width, and height.
  • Collaborate: Work together with others.
  • Creativity: Using imagination to create something new.

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For suggestions, improvements, and corrections, feel free to reach out at shayaanhaider@gmail.com

[DL19] Collaborative Design contd