From Scrap to Smiles

A local lumber yard Vintage Lumber in Woodsboro, Maryland throws away tens of thousands of scrap ¾” hardwood cubes that result from its furniture construction processes. The material is expensive and the scrap represents a sizable loss of profit.

Design Statement: Vintage Lumber would like to return value to its waste product by using it as the raw material for children's toys donated to local P-K Programs. Your mission is to design, build, test, document, and present a three-dimensional puzzle that is made from the scrap hardwood cubes. The puzzle system must provide an appropriate degree of challenge to a person who is three years of age or older. IMPORTANT: Look at the cube on the right and ask yourself what 3 year old will be excited about a cube, make something interesting that fits together. Example: house, car, plane, or an animal, who knows what can be designed. This is where your imagination comes in!!!

Instructors: If you want to take it to another level - Allow a very small amount of string or wire to put 2-4 pieces of the cube together - Encourage creativity.

Criteria & Constraints:

The puzzle must be fabricated from 30 – ¾”hardwood cubes.
The puzzle system must contain between 5 and 9 combined pieces
Each individual puzzle piece must consist of at least 3, but no more than six hardwood cubes, that are permanently attached to each other.
No two puzzle pieces can be the same.
The puzzle pieces must assemble to form a shape of your choice. (The example below is a cube)
Some puzzle parts should interlock.
You will work with one partner.

Materials:

30 ¾” wooden cubes/Group - 500 BlocksFrom Amazon
Glue (Wood, super or hot at teacher discretion) Wood/white glue is preferred; hot glue adds width and can cause challenges with assembling the pieces.

Target Consumer: Ages 3+

Designer: You and your partner

Teacher Resources

Daily Entry Events that includes the Design Process
Engineering Design Process Notebook
8 Step Design Process
8 Great Videos to Teach the Engineering Design Process
Design Process Graphic Organizer - 8 STEP Graphic Organizer
Design Process Note Cards - Print and cut out for a reference

Teacher Resources

Day 1:

- Review Puzzle Design Brief
  - Complete Steps 1 & 2 on the Design Process Worksheet - Assign a copy to all students

Brainstorm some designs using the Isometric Drawing Tool, do a print screen of 3 shapes that you would use in your puzzle, and paste on a google doc and submit to your instructor. Practice drawing some isometric Cubes
- Isometric Drawing Tool
- How to draw Isometric an Isometric Cube // Another Example
- Paste designs in the Design Process Worksheet Step 3

Possible Performance Standards Evaluated

4A Exhibit a tolerance for ambiguity, perseverance and the capacity to work with open-ended problems. (Teamwork)
1B Engage in positive, safe, legal and ethical behaviors when using technology, including social interactions online, intellectual property, or when using networked devices.

Day 2:

- Review the Design Process Presentation in PearDeck
- Open using PearDeck and either assign to students for self paced or present as a class.

Day 2 & 3:

- On the Design Process Worksheet students should complete through step 6 until they proceed.
  - Students will begin planning and designing their puzzle cube designs

Possible Performance Standards Evaluated

4A Exhibit a tolerance for ambiguity, perseverance and the capacity to work with open-ended problems. (Completion of the Design Process Worksheet)
4B Know and use a deliberate design process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts or solving authentic problems. (Brainstorming and design of small prototypes)
5B Break problems into component parts, extract key information, and develop descriptive models to understand complex systems or facilitate problem-solving. (Development of a collaborative solution of the puzzle)

Days 4 - 6:

- Assign the Orthographic and Isometric Sketches presentation and practice
- Open using PearDeck and assign to students for self paced lesson
- Upon completion of the presentation, students will complete practice orthographic drawings and begin isometric drawings
- Once practice drawings are completed, students will complete orthographic and isometric drawings for their final puzzle designs.
- Here is a link for printable isometric drawing graph paper

Possible Performance Standards Evaluated

3B & 3C Communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively, including the use of a variety of digital objects such as visualizations, models or simulations that are original & Skilled at interacting with others; they are active listeners and speak clearly and with purpose. (Design & Presentation of Sketch)
6A Demonstrate that actions and attitudes can affect productivity, morale, and school or workplace culture (Students ability to complete tasks in the student workflow chart and contribute to the team)

Day 7:

- Students will use the following website to create digital isometric drawings of their puzzle designs.
- Students will utilize this document for directions and as a way to submit their drawings

Possible Performance Standards Evaluated

1A Contribute effort as a responsible member of the classroom and understands the obligations of being a productive member of a community. (Working together to design the puzzle)

Days 8-10:

Students will use this Introduction to TinkerCad document to learn how to use the 3D modeling software
Students will complete tutorials of practice drawings before completing 3D models of all the components for their final puzzle designs.

Possible Performance Standards Evaluated

1B Engage in positive, safe, legal and ethical behaviors when using technology, including social interactions online, intellectual property, or when using networked devices. (Proper use of tech tools when utilizing TinkerCad)
5C Demonstrates the ability to handle challenges and adversity by being persistence and utilizing Growth Mindset, the Power of Yet, and Grit. (Student is able to utilize online tutorials to learn and grow using TinkerCad)

Days 11-12:

Students will make paper cubes in order to assemble a paper prototype of their puzzle designs
Use this Link as an example video for how to build a paper cube
Use this Link for printable 3/4 inch graph paper
Or use this simple cube pattern or this cube pattern for the students to cut and glue together.

Possible Performance Standards Evaluated
2C Follow correct procedures for use of tools, technology, and equipment and follows the correct maintenance protocol t (Utilization of tools and equipment when constructing the Puzzle)
3B Communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively, including the use of a variety of digital objects such as visualizations, models or simulations that are original (Design & Presentation of Prototype)

Days 13-15:

Students will make their final prototype out of wooden cubes
Students can utilize paint, markers, stain, color pencils or other coloring tools at the teacher's discretion

Days 16-17:

Students will begin designing an aesthetically pleasing packaging for their wooden puzzles.
Students can make the packaging on paper or on the computer and print it out.
Students must get rough drafts approved before beginning final draft

Possible Performance Standards Evaluated

3A Choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication.

Days 18-20:

Students will begin working on a Marketing and Ad Campaign for their wooden puzzles.
Students must convince the company that their design should be chosen to sell
Students will use a multimedia source to create their ad campaign

Possible Performance Standards Evaluated

3C Skilled at interacting with others; they are active listeners and speak clearly and with purpose.
3B Communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively including the use of a variety of digital objects such as visualizations, models or simulations that are original

From Scrap to Smiles

Teacher Resources

Teacher Resources

Day 1:

Day 2:

Day 2 & 3:

Days 4 - 6:

Day 7:

Days 8-10:

Days 11-12:

Days 13-15:

Days 16-17:

Days 18-20:

Additional Resources

Puzzle Design Brief

Daily engineering log