Use Sketchup to build a dream house with a pool

Video

Link to Sketchup

Detailed Lesson

SketchUp for Schools: My Dream House with a Pool

Grade Level: Middle School (Grades 6-8) Time Allotment: 60-75 minutes

Lesson Objectives

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

• Create a complex 3D model, including a multi-part structure and a pool.

• Utilize advanced SketchUp tools, such as the Offset tool, to add realistic details.

• Apply textures and colors to customize their model.

• Critique their own work and prepare it for a digital portfolio submission.

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 & Inspiration (5 minutes)

Start with a short discussion about architecture and personal spaces. Ask students to imagine their perfect home. What features would it have? What does the backyard look like? Introduce the challenge: to bring that dream to life in 3D using SketchUp.

Part 2: Tool Review & New Techniques (10 minutes)

Briefly review the core tools from the previous lesson: Line (L), Push/Pull (P), Orbit (O), and Eraser (E).

Introduce the new tools and techniques required for this project:

1. Rectangle Tool (R): Use this to quickly draw the floorplan of the house and the outline of the pool.

2. Offset Tool (F): Show how to use this tool to create a parallel line or shape. This is perfect for creating the ledge around the pool.

3. Paint Bucket Tool (B): Explain that this tool is used to apply colors and textures (like water, brick, or grass) to surfaces.

Part 3: Guided Practice - Building the Foundation (20 minutes)

Guide students through the core steps of building the house and pool.

1. Create the House Footprint: Use the Rectangle tool to draw a large, rectangular shape on the ground.

2. Build the Walls: Use the Push/Pull tool to extrude the rectangle up to create the house walls.

3. Create the Pool:

   • On the ground next to the house, use the Rectangle tool to draw a pool shape.

   • Select the Push/Pull tool and push the rectangle down into the ground to create the pool's depth.

   • Use the Offset tool to create a border around the pool outline for a raised deck or stone coping. Push/Pull this new shape up to give it height.

4. Add the Roof, Doors, and Windows: Follow the same steps from the previous lesson to add a roof and openings for doors and windows.

Part 4: Independent Work - Customizing the Dream (15-20 minutes)

Challenge students to add at least three additional, personalized elements to their models. Ideas include:

• Adding furniture inside or outside the house.

• Building a diving board for the pool.

• Adding a garage or patio.

• Designing unique landscaping with trees and paths.

• Using the Paint Bucket tool to add textures to the roof, walls, and water in the pool.

Part 5: Conclusion & Sharing (5 minutes)

Have students save their model and take a screenshot of their final "dream house" from an interesting angle. Instruct them to share their screenshot with a partner and explain their design choices. Finally, have them upload their screenshot to the 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 the completion of the basic house and pool, the use of at least one new tool (like the Offset tool), and the inclusion of at least three personal details. The submission to the digital portfolio will serve as the final deliverable.