[DL25] Painting Keychains

M3D DesignLab DesignLab Grade 2
1

Session 5: “Colorful Finishes: Decorating Our Keychains”

Architect:
Syed Shayaan Haider - Markhor3D

Learning Objectives

In this session, Grade 2 students will:

  • Safely Handle 3D Printed Objects: Learn how to remove supports carefully and understand basic features of their keychains.
  • Identify Features of 3D Prints: Recognize layer lines, top and bottom layers, and discuss the strength and weight of their keychains.
  • Express Creativity Through Decoration: Use paints or markers to personalize their keychains.
  • Enhance Fine Motor Skills: Improve hand-eye coordination through painting and detailing.
  • Build Pride in Their Creations: Develop a sense of accomplishment by completing their keychains.

Teaching Aids

Required Equipment:

  • Printed Keychains: All student keychains printed and ready.
  • Safety Equipment: Safety goggles, gloves (if necessary).
  • Tools for Support Removal:
    • Small pliers or tweezers (teacher-assisted).
  • Magnifying Glasses (Optional): To observe fine details like layer lines.
  • Painting Supplies:
    • Acrylic paints in various colors.
    • Paintbrushes of different sizes.
    • Permanent markers or paint markers.
    • Palettes or paper plates for mixing colors.
    • Cups of water and paper towels for cleaning brushes.
  • Protective Table Covers: Newspaper or plastic sheets to protect tables.
  • Aprons or Smocks: To protect students’ clothing.
  • Drying Area: Space to let painted keychains dry.
  • Whiteboard and Markers: For explanations and highlighting key concepts.

Structure and Lesson Plan (Total Time: 50 minutes)

Introduction and Distribution of Keychains (5 minutes)

  • Welcome Students:

    • “Good morning, everyone! Today is the exciting day you’ve been waiting for—you get to see your very own keychains printed and ready!”

  • Distribute Keychains:

    • Hand out each student’s keychain individually.
    • Encourage them to look closely at their creation.

  • Initial Observation:

    • “Take a moment to look at your keychain. Isn’t it amazing to see your design come to life?”

Exploring Features of 3D Printed Objects (10 minutes)

  • Discussion of Key Features:

    • Layer Lines:

      • Show and Explain:
        • “Notice the thin lines on your keychain. These are called layer lines.”
        • “The 3D printer builds your keychain by stacking many thin layers of plastic on top of each other.”
      • Analogy:

    • Top and Bottom Layers:

      • Point Out:
        • “Look at the top and bottom of your keychain.”
        • “The bottom layer is the first layer the printer made, and the top layer is the last.”
      • Touch and Feel:
        • “Can you feel any differences between them?”

image
image1024×1024 74.7 KB

  • Supports (if any):

    • Explain:
      • “Some keychains might have extra bits of plastic called supports.”
      • “Supports help hold up parts of your design while it’s being printed.”

image
image300×168 15.1 KB

  • Strength and Weight:

    • Discuss:
      • “Feel how light your keychain is!”
      • “Even though it’s light, it’s strong because of the way the layers are built.”

  • Engage Students with Questions:

    • “What do you think about the way your keychain feels?”
    • “Can you see the patterns the printer made?”

Safely Removing Supports (5 minutes/ optional)

  • Safety First:

    • “Before we decorate, we need to remove any supports carefully.”

  • Demonstrate Support Removal:

    • Teacher Demonstration:
      • Show how to gently remove supports using small pliers or tweezers.
      • “Watch how I carefully remove this support without breaking the keychain.”

  • Assist Students:

    • Teacher-Assisted Removal:
      • For safety, the teacher should handle the support removal.
      • “If your keychain has supports, bring it to me, and I’ll help you remove them.”

  • Safety Reminders:

    • “Please do not try to remove supports on your own to avoid any accidents.”

Preparing for Decoration (5 minutes)

  • Set Up Workstations:

    • Protect Surfaces:
      • Cover tables with newspaper or plastic sheets.
    • Distribute Supplies:
      • Provide paints, brushes, markers, water cups, and paper towels.
    • Wear Protective Gear:
      • Have students put on aprons or smocks.

  • Instructions for Painting:

    • “We’re going to decorate our keychains to make them even more special!”

  • Demonstrate Painting Techniques:

    • Basic Painting:
      • “You can use brushes to paint large areas.”
    • Detail Work:
      • “Use thinner brushes or markers for smaller details.”
    • Mixing Colors:
      • “You can mix paints on your palette to create new colors.”

Decorating the Keychains (20 minutes)

image
image300×168 10.3 KB

image
image275×183 16.6 KB

image
image300×168 13.5 KB

  • Begin Decoration:

    • “Let your creativity shine! You can paint your keychain any way you like.”

  • Guided Assistance:

    • Circulate the room to:
      • Help students with painting techniques.
      • Encourage them to try different colors and designs.
      • Remind them to be gentle to avoid breaking their keychains.

  • Conversation Starters:

    • “What colors are you choosing, and why?”
    • “Tell me about the design you’re creating.”

  • Safety and Cleanliness Reminders:

    • “Be careful with the paints and brushes.”
    • “If you need to clean your brush, use the water cup and dry it with a paper towel.”

Sharing and Discussing Their Work (5 minutes)

  • Allow Time for Drying:

    • “Place your keychain on the drying area when you’re finished.”

  • Group Discussion:

    • “Let’s take a moment to share our creations.”

  • Invite Students to Share:

    • “Who would like to show us their keychain and tell us about how they decorated it?”

  • Positive Feedback:

    • Encourage students to compliment each other’s work.
    • “I love how you used those bright colors!”

Clean-Up (3 minutes)

  • Organize Materials:

    • “Please help clean up by washing your brushes and putting away the paints.”

  • Dispose of Waste Properly:

    • “Throw away any used paper towels and make sure your area is tidy.”

Conclusion and Reflection (2 minutes)

  • Reflect on the Experience:

    • “How did it feel to see and decorate your own keychain?”

  • Reinforce Learning:

    • “Remember how we saw the layer lines and how the printer built your keychain layer by layer.”

  • Closing Encouragement:

“You all did a fantastic job! Your keychains are unique and wonderful, just like each of you.”

Additional Notes for the Teacher

  • Preparation:

    • Ensure all keychains are printed and ready before the session.
    • Set up the room with painting stations in advance.

  • Safety Considerations:

    • Supervise the use of paints and small tools.
    • Keep sharp tools like pliers out of students’ reach unless directly supervised.

  • Formative Assessment:

    • For Advanced Students:

      • Encourage more detailed decorations or patterns.

    • For Students Needing Extra Help:

      • Provide assistance with painting techniques or ideas.

Key Vocabulary

  • Layer Lines: The visible lines on a 3D print showing where each layer of plastic was added.

  • Supports: Temporary structures printed to hold up parts of a model during printing.

  • Top Layer: The final layer printed on the top surface of the object.

  • Bottom Layer: The first layer printed, forming the base of the object.

  • Strength and Weight: Characteristics of the printed object; despite being lightweight, it’s strong due to the layered construction.

Previous Session
Next Session

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

[DL24] Printing Our Creation!