Learning Objectives:
- Build upon basic 3D modeling skills using TinkerCad.
- Introduce advanced shapes and tools in the software.
- Encourage problem-solving by designing personalized objects.
- Reinforce the connection between precise measurements and successful designs.
- Foster collaboration through group projects.
Overview of the Course:
- Advanced Modeling Techniques and Personalization:
- Students explore advanced tools in TinkerCad to create more intricate designs, including personalized items like keychains.
- Printing and Problem-Solving:
- They prepare and print their designs, learning to troubleshoot and fix issues, emphasizing the importance of iteration in the design process.
- Collaborative Projects and Storytelling:
- Group projects involve building a shared creation (e.g., a village).
- Integration of storytelling enhances creativity and presentation skills.
Session 1: “Journey into 3D Worlds”
Description:
Students are reintroduced to 3D objects, exploring more complex shapes like pyramids, cylinders, and cones. The teacher shows examples of everyday items resembling these shapes. They discuss how combining shapes can create new objects. This session reinforces their understanding of shapes and sparks ideas for creating their own designs.
Session 2: “TinkerCad Explorers: Navigating New Tools”
Description:
Students delve deeper into TinkerCad, learning how to manipulate shapes by resizing, rotating, and aligning them. The teacher guides them through creating a simple model, such as a small house made from basic shapes. They practice using the software tools with more independence, building confidence in their digital skills.
Session 3: “Build a Dream: Designing Personal Keychains”
Description:
Students design their own keychains in TinkerCad, incorporating their names or initials. They learn how to use text tools and combine them with shapes. This project allows them to personalize their work and introduces them to combining different types of elements in a design.
Session 4: “From Screen to Reality: Printing Our Creations”
Description:
The class reviews the 3D printing process. The teacher demonstrates how to prepare their keychain designs for printing, introducing basic concepts like scaling and positioning on the print bed. Students watch as their designs are printed, reinforcing the connection between their digital work and the physical outcome.
Session 5: “Colorful Finishes: Decorating Our Keychains”
Description:
Students retrieve their printed keychains and learn how to safely remove supports if any. They then decorate their keychains using paints or markers, expressing their creativity and adding personal touches. This hands-on activity enhances their fine motor skills and pride in their creations.
Session 6: “Introducing Problem-Solving: Fixing Our Designs”
Description:
The teacher introduces the idea that sometimes designs don’t print as expected. Students examine examples of failed prints and discuss why they might have happened (e.g., overhangs without support). They return to TinkerCad to modify their keychain designs or create a simple object while considering printability, introducing basic problem-solving and design iteration.
Session 7: “Collaborative Creation: Building a Village”
Description:
Students work in small groups to design simple buildings (houses, shops, schools) in TinkerCad. Each group is responsible for creating one structure. The teacher guides them in planning their designs to fit together in a shared “village” scene, introducing concepts of scale and proportion.
Session 8: “Assembling Our Village: The Big Build”
Description:
The printed buildings are collected, and students work together to arrange their village on a large base or table. They can add details with additional materials like paper trees or roads. This collaborative project emphasizes teamwork, planning, and spatial awareness.
Session 9: “Storytelling with Our Village”
Description:
Students create stories or scenarios set in their 3D-printed village. They can write short descriptions or act out scenes, integrating literacy skills with their design work. This session encourages them to think about how environments and objects can support narratives.
Session 10: “Reflect and Celebrate: Our Design Journey”
Description:
In the final session, students reflect on what they’ve learned. They share their favorite projects, challenges they overcame, and what they’d like to create in the future. The session ends with a celebration of their work, possibly inviting parents or other classes to view their village and keychains.