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

Lesson Title: Designing Cardboard Airplanes 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 aerodynamics.

2. Create a 3D design of a basic airplane using TinkerCAD.

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

4. Identify key features of their airplane design that affect flight.

5. Prototype and improve their cardboard airplane designs.

Materials:

• Computers or tablets with internet access and TinkerCAD accounts.

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

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

• Safety goggles.

• Scissors.

• Rulers.

• Markers and colored pencils.

• Glue.

• Worksheets with diagrams of basic airplane parts.

• Printer for worksheets (optional).

• Videos or educational materials on aerodynamics (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 airplane 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 Aerodynamics and TinkerCAD

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

• Engagement (15 minutes): Show a video or conduct a brief discussion about the principles of aerodynamics, explaining how airplanes fly.

◦ Essential Question: "What are the key principles of aerodynamics that allow airplanes to fly?" 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 airplanes.

◦ Assessment: Homework submission for research assignment.

Day 2: Designing the Airplane in TinkerCAD

Objective: Students will design a basic airplane in TinkerCAD.

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

◦ Essential Question: "What makes an airplane fly?"

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

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

• Activity (35 minutes): Students design their airplanes on TinkerCAD, considering factors like wing shape, size, and fuselage design.

  • Essential Question: "What design features can we incorporate in TinkerCAD to make our airplanes more efficient in flight?"

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

• Homework: Finalize airplane 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 airplane 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?" Instruction (15 minutes): Explain that today's focus is on creating a prototype from cardboard.

• Activity (60 minutes): Students build a prototype of their airplane 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 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 airplane design.

◦

Essential Question: "Why is precision important when cutting materials for our airplanes, and how can it impact their performance?"

• 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.