LP2

Lesson Plan: Designing a Tiny House in SketchUp for Schools

Grade Level: Middle School

Lesson Duration: 2-3 Class Periods (45-60 minutes each)

Lesson Objectives:

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

1. Use SketchUp for Schools to design a simple tiny house.

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

3. Reflect on their design choices and document their learning process.

Materials Needed:

• Computers or Chromebooks with SketchUp for Schools installed.

• Internet access to watch the tutorial: Tiny House Design Video

• Google Sites (for students to upload their work).

Lesson Outline:

Day 1: Introduction & SketchUp Basics (45-60 minutes)

1. Hook (5 min):

   • Show a few images of tiny houses and discuss:

     • What makes a tiny house different from a regular house?

     • Why do people choose to live in tiny houses?

2. Watch Tutorial (15 min):

   • Students will watch the Tiny House in SketchUp tutorial.

   • Encourage them to take notes on key steps.

3. SketchUp Practice (25-30 min):

   • Open SketchUp for Schools.

   • Have students experiment with drawing walls, floors, and roofs using the Rectangle, Push/Pull, and Move tools.

   • Save work in Google Drive.

Day 2: Building the Tiny House (45-60 minutes)

1. Review & Questions (10 min):

   • Quick recap of the video.

   • Answer any student questions about tools and techniques.

2. Design & Create (35-45 min):

   • Students build their own tiny house in SketchUp.

   • Encourage them to include:

     • A door and windows.

     • A roof.

     • A simple interior (bed, table, or storage).

   • Remind them to save frequently!

Day 3: Final Touches & Portfolio Submission (45 minutes)

1. Finishing Designs (20 min):

   • Students complete their tiny house, ensuring it looks like a livable space.

2. Taking a Screenshot (5 min):

   • Instruct students to capture a screenshot of their tiny house.

3. Reflection Writing (10 min):

   • Students write a three-sentence reflection on their Google Site portfolio:

     • What was the most challenging part of designing the tiny house?

     • What did you enjoy most about using SketchUp?

     • How might 3D modeling be useful in real life?

4. Upload to Google Site (10 min):

   • Students submit their screenshot and reflection.

Assessment Criteria:

✔ Tiny House Model: Basic structure complete with walls, roof, door, and at least one window.
✔ Use of SketchUp Tools: Proper use of drawing, push/pull, and grouping functions.
✔ Screenshot Submission: Uploaded to Google Site.
✔ Reflection Quality: Clear, complete, and thoughtful responses.

Extension Ideas:

• Challenge students to design a furniture layout inside their tiny house.

• Have students calculate the square footage of their tiny house.

• Let students present their tiny house designs to the class.