A note about adapting the lessons below for multiple grade levels

I have done or am doing these projects with grades 4 through 8.  I simply adapt the depth and expectations for each grade level.  For example, with the younger kids I may focus more on the design process, learning TinkerCAD and producing something that at least somewhat resembles the end result that I may be expecting for the older kids.  As the grades progress, the focus shifts more toward the end result, the prototyping process, and some of the science/math behind it.  I am hoping to try the card board airplane project with 3rd grade once they become more proficient with TinkerCAD.

Click here to go to the Lesson Plan

My students love this project.  This can be combined with robotics as well.  Students can design bridges that can be measured for how much weight they can hold or they can design bridges to be used with Sphero robots, Indi cars, and so much more!  I have actually done this project down as low as 4th up to 8th grade and beyond.  High school students should be able to go much further with this project and design some really cool bridges!

There are many different ways to start this project depending on the age of your students and their familiarity with TinkerCAD.  It can be very helpful for students to draw their design on paper or card stock (or even cardboard) and cut it out as a first draft.  Next the students can move their design into TinkerCAD.  We'll let them work their designs, export the design to a .svg file, submit it to Google Classroom (both for assessment/observation and for sharing to a classroom folder for moving the design to the computer running the software for the laser cutter), and then to the laser cutter controller.

After a successful cut (and even a failure) students will test their design to see if it meets the criteria for the project.  If not, students will assess what needs to be improved or changed before trying again.  

Click here to go to the Lesson Plan