3D printing for elementary schools — it’s not always the easiest thing to find projects or lesson plans for.
MakerBot Academy is a great resource. It offers free STL file downloads in addition to lesson plans via Thingiverse that cover a range of disciplines from engineering to biology to archaeology.
The following projects (for grades 1-6) make the process of incorporating 3D printing technology into classroom curriculum more seamless for teachers and students.
Saber-Toothed Cat Skull (1st Grade)
Typically, students are not allowed to handle fragile objects like fossils and artifacts. 3D printing changes that. With this saber-toothed cat skull, students can touch, hold, and even take home the impressive skull of this massive feline that has been extinct for over 11,000 years.
Supreme Court Building (3rd Grade)
A great addition to any U.S. government lesson, printing the Supreme Court Building adds a hands-on layer to teaching how constitutional law, the Judicial Branch and nine current Supreme Court justices work in this building designed by legendary architect Cass Gilbert.
The Great Pyramid of Giza (Grades 3-5)
Teach students about Egypt’s ancient civilization and print The Great Pyramid of Giza in this project that takes about 2-3 class periods. This lesson plan covers the following learning objectives:
- Students will explain the meaning of the word artifact
- Students will explain an example of size and scale of the pyramids
- Students will discuss the purpose of pyramids
All you need is a computer with an Internet connection, a MakerBot Replicator 3D printer, paper, pencils, poster boards and markers.
Leif Erikson’s Drakkar Ship (4th Grade)
3D printing is a great tool to allow students to explore new – and old – things with models they can touch and hold in their hands.
This project allows you to demonstrate the design that went into the Leif Erikson’s Drakkar Ship, a wooden longship that made Erikson the first European to set foot in North America.
The T-Rex Skull (Grades 4-6)
The T-Rex Skull from MakerBot Academy comes complete with a lesson plan that explores characteristics of the most-studied dinosaur, Tyrannosaurus Rex.
In about 3-5 class periods, students gain an understanding of what can be learned from fossils as well as the difference between facts and theories. Students will also gain a general understanding of how fossils are formed.
If you try any of these in your own classrooms, let us know how you get on!
