7th grade skyscraper design project

Last year, on the hunt for an interdisciplinary Middle School project, one of the 7th grade math teachers and I collaborated on a new curricular idea.  We developed a skyscraper design project, where we asked students to choose an existing skyscraper, calculate its dimensions using a set scale, and build a 3-D model using the 3-D design program Tinkercad.

With the help of a Collaboration Grant from the school, which funded the purchase of a new 3-D printer, and the generous support of the other 7th grade math teachers, this year every 7th grade student had the opportunity to participate.  Our skyscraper design project went from being in “beta” to a more established part of the curriculum.  Last week we put together a display case of all the 7th grade skyscraper projects.  The work and effort of the students was evident, and it has been particularly satisfying watching the project grow.  It’s fantastic watching students apply the abstract concepts of scale and proportion to a practical design problem.