3d printing

7th Grade Skyscrapers

7th grade skyscraper design project

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.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

William Kamkwamba and his first windmill in Malawi.

I just finished reading an incredibly inspiring book called “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.” It’s the story of a young man named William Kamkwamba, who helps supply electricity to his family’s home in Malawi by building a windmill.   Because of a shortage of money, he is forced to drop out of school.  His technical knowledge comes from books that he checks out of his local library.  He rummages for parts in the village dump and cobbles together his windmill in part from a bicycle dynamo.  The amount of adversity he must overcome in order to get the windmill working is incredibly humbling.

Right now our 6th grade technology class is working on developing their own alternative energy devices as a collaborative project with their 6th grade goLEAD class.  We are currently communicating with global partners and learning the 3-D design tool Sketchup, which we will use to develop 3-D printed prototypes.

This book reminded me how much you can do with so little.  It made me think about the true spirit of what we call “maker” education: student-directed, problem-oriented, and hands-on.  I encourage you to watch William Kamkwamba’s TED Talk or check out the children’s version of his book.

Hummingbird Rover

Our assembled Hummingbird Rover.

Our assembled Hummingbird Rover.

The Hummingbird Robot Kit from Carnegie Mellon released their new, upgraded Duo boards in 2015 that allow students to create untethered robots that can freely move around (with the use of a battery pack).  Jennifer and I were able to 3-d print this rover design and assemble a mobile rover, hoping to inspire our technology students to design and print their own models.

There is nothing like printing your own parts, working through problems, and being able to see your robot rover take its first steps!  I love the Hummingbird boards for their versatility, craftiness, and the creativity that they inspire in our students.  I’m excited to see what our 8th graders design!