Subject: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

Grade Levels: Elementary (4th-5th grade) and Middle School (6th-8th grade)

Lesson Title: Designing Cardboard Bridges with TinkerCAD and Laser Cutter

Duration: 6 class periods (45 minutes each)

Learning Outcomes:

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

1. Explain the basic principles of structural engineering.

2. Create a 3D design of a basic cardboard bridge using TinkerCAD.

3. Demonstrate proficiency in using a laser cutter to cut their cardboard bridge design.

4. Identify key features of their bridge design that affect its strength and stability.

5. Prototype and improve their cardboard bridge designs.

Materials:

• Computers or tablets with internet access and TinkerCAD accounts.

• Cardboard sheets (enough for each student/group to create bridge prototypes).

• Laser cutter (or access to a laser cutting machine).

• Safety goggles.

• Scissors.

• Rulers.

• Markers and colored pencils.

• Glue.

• Worksheets with diagrams of basic bridge structures.

• Printer for worksheets (optional).

• Videos or educational materials on structural engineering (optional).

• Homework handouts (optional).

Preparation:

1. Set up computer or tablet stations for students to access TinkerCAD.

2. Ensure the laser cutter is properly set up and operational.

3. Prepare cardboard sheets by cutting them into smaller pieces for bridge construction.

4. Prepare safety goggles for students' use during laser cutting.

5. Print worksheets or homework handouts if needed.

6. Ensure markers, colored pencils, rulers, and glue are readily available for students' use.

Sequence of Learning:

Day 1: Introduction to Structural Engineering and TinkerCAD

Objective: Students will understand the basics of structural engineering and create TinkerCAD accounts.

• Engagement (15 minutes): Show a video or conduct a brief discussion about the principles of structural engineering, explaining the importance of bridge design.

  • Essential Question: "What are the key principles of structural engineering that make bridges strong and stable?"

• Instruction (20 minutes): Introduce TinkerCAD, demonstrate basic functions, and have students create accounts if they haven't already.

• Activity (10 minutes): Students explore TinkerCAD and practice basic design skills.

  • Assessment: Observation of students' engagement and participation in TinkerCAD exploration.

• Homework: Research and collect images of different types of bridges.

  • Assessment: Homework submission for research assignment.

Day 2: Designing the Bridge in TinkerCAD

Objective: Students will design a basic cardboard bridge in TinkerCAD.

• Engagement (10 minutes): Review the principles of structural engineering from the previous day.

  • Essential Question: "How can we apply structural engineering principles to design a strong and stable cardboard bridge?"

• Instruction (20 minutes): Provide a step-by-step tutorial on using TinkerCAD for bridge design.

  • Assessment: Teacher-led assessment of students' understanding through questions and interaction during the tutorial.

• Activity (35 minutes): Students design their bridges on TinkerCAD, considering factors like beam placement, truss design, and support structure.

  • Essential Question: "What design features can we incorporate in TinkerCAD to make our bridges strong and stable?"

  • Assessment: Review of students' TinkerCAD designs for adherence to design principles.

• Homework: Finalize bridge designs and come up with a brief description of their design choices.

  • Assessment: Review of students' design descriptions for understanding and application of design principles.

Day 3: Prototyping and Initial Testing

Objective: Students will prototype their bridge designs using cardboard.

• Engagement (15 minutes): Discuss the importance of prototyping and how it can help improve designs.

◦ Essential Question: "Why is prototyping an essential step in the design process for bridges?" Instruction (15 minutes): Explain that today's focus is on creating a prototype from cardboard.

• Activity (60 minutes): Students build a prototype of their bridge design using cardboard. They may work in pairs or small groups.

◦ Assessment: Observation of students' prototype construction and collaboration in pairs or groups.

Day 4: Analyzing and Improving Prototypes

Objective: Students will analyze their cardboard prototypes, identify design flaws, and plan improvements.

• Engagement (15 minutes): Discuss the importance of analyzing the prototype's performance and identifying areas for improvement.

  • Essential Question: "What did we learn from testing our prototypes, and how can we use this information to make our bridge designs better?"

• Activity (45 minutes): Students test their cardboard prototypes, record observations, and identify design weaknesses.

  • Assessment: Review of students' observations and identification of design weaknesses.

• Discussion (20 minutes): In small groups or as a class, students discuss what worked well and what needs improvement. They plan and sketch modifications for their designs.

  • Assessment: Participation in group discussions and quality of modification plans.

Day 5: Refining TinkerCAD Designs

Objective: Students will use their observations from the prototype testing to refine their TinkerCAD designs.

• Engagement (10 minutes): Review the testing and analysis from the previous day.

• Essential Question: "How can we apply what we've learned from our prototypes to improve our digital designs in TinkerCAD?"

•

Activity (60 minutes): Students make adjustments to their TinkerCAD designs based on their prototype testing findings. Emphasize the importance of iteration and refinement.

• Assessment: Review of students' modified TinkerCAD designs for improvements based on testing data.

Day 6: Preparing Cardboard and Laser Cutting

Objective: Students will prepare cardboard and learn about laser cutting.

• Engagement (10 minutes): Discuss the importance of precise measurements in bridge design.

  • Essential Question: "Why is precision important when cutting materials for our bridges, and how can it impact their strength and stability?"

• Instruction (20 minutes): Explain safety protocols for using the laser cutter and demonstrate its operation.

  • Assessment: Assessment of students' understanding of laser cutter safety through questions and interaction during the demonstration.

• Activity (40 minutes): Students measure and cut cardboard pieces according to their refined TinkerCAD designs.

They should work in pairs or small groups if needed.

• Assessment: Observation of students' precision in measurements and collaboration during cardboard cutting.