Creating a Simple 3D House Using SketchUp for Schools

Lesson Objectives:

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Use SketchUp for Schools to create a basic 3D house model.

2. Apply fundamental 3D modeling techniques, including drawing, extruding, and grouping objects.

3. Reflect on their learning experience and submit their work to a digital portfolio.

Link to Video

Link to Sketchup

LP

Detailed Lesson

SketchUp for Schools: Introduction to 3D Modeling

Grade Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8) Time Allotment: 45-60 minutes

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Use SketchUp for Schools to create a basic 3D house model.

• Apply fundamental 3D modeling techniques, including drawing, extruding, and grouping objects.

• Reflect on their learning experience and submit their work to a digital portfolio.

Materials

• Computers or Chromebooks for each student

• Reliable internet access

• Access to SketchUp for Schools

• A digital portfolio platform (e.g., Google Classroom, SeeSaw, Canvas)

Lesson Procedure

Part 1: Introduction (5 minutes)

Begin by asking students to think about their homes or other buildings they see every day. Pose questions like, "How do architects and builders create designs before they start building?" and "What do they use to visualize a space in three dimensions?"

Introduce SketchUp for Schools as a powerful, browser-based 3D modeling tool used by professionals and hobbyists alike. Explain that today, they will act as architects to design a simple house.

Part 2: Direct Instruction & Tool Introduction (10 minutes)

Guide students through the SketchUp for Schools interface. Use a projector or screen-sharing to demonstrate each tool.

1. Interface Overview: Point out the main toolbar on the left and the measurement box in the bottom right corner.

2. Line Tool (L): Demonstrate drawing a simple square on the ground plane. Explain that lines are the basis for all shapes.

3. Push/Pull Tool (P): Show how to use this tool to "extrude" a 2D shape into a 3D object. Push the square up to form a box.

4. Orbit Tool (O): Explain the importance of rotating the camera to see the model from all sides. Show how to click and drag to orbit around the object.

5. Eraser Tool (E): Demonstrate how to click on a line or an edge to erase it.

Part 3: Guided Practice - Building a Basic House (15 minutes)

Walk students through the step-by-step process of creating a basic house, encouraging them to follow along on their own devices.

1. Create the Floor: Use the Line tool to draw a rectangle on the ground.

2. Build the Walls: Select the Push/Pull tool and pull the rectangle up to the desired height to form the walls.

3. Add a Roof:

   • Orbit to the top of the walls.

   • Use the Line tool to draw a line across the top of one of the short walls, from the midpoint to the midpoint.

   • Use the Push/Pull tool on the triangle you've created to "extrude" it out, forming a roof.

4. Draw Doors and Windows:

   • Orbit to the front of the house.

   • Use the Rectangle tool to draw shapes for a door and windows.

   • Use the Push/Pull tool to push the door and window shapes slightly inward, creating an indentation.

Part 4: Independent Work - Customizing the House (10-15 minutes)

Now, challenge students to make their houses unique. Encourage them to add at least two details of their own choice. Ideas include:

• Adding a chimney

• Drawing and extruding a second story

• Creating a front porch

• Using the Line tool to make more intricate windows

Encourage them to continue using the tools they've learned and to experiment with different shapes and sizes.

Part 5: Conclusion & Reflection (5 minutes)

Have students save their model and take a screenshot of their finished house from a creative angle. Instruct them to share the screenshot with a partner and explain one challenge they faced and one thing they are proud of. Finally, have them upload their screenshot to the designated digital portfolio platform for submission.

Assessment

• Formative: Circulate during the independent work portion to observe students' progress and provide real-time feedback.

• Summative: Check for completion of the basic house model and the inclusion of at least two additional details. The submission to the digital portfolio will serve as the final deliverable.