Switch thought it would be fun to spend the weeks before Christmas break introducing 3D printing to the 5th Grade class at Pioneer Elementary during their Power Hour of STEM. As you know we’ve been working with this class over the course of the year with various projects which incorporate a variety of applied skills. This session has been no different.
We decided to take to the high seas with our 3D printing project. We gave the groups 3D printed paddle wheels and told them, they were to design a boat around this paddlewheel that when you wind up a rubber band the boat will go powering through the water. Their constraints were also it could be no longer than 5 inches long, 4 inches wide or 2 inches tall. So off they went.
First they sketched their designs to get a concept of how a paddlewheel boat might actually work. Then rapid-prototyped some concepts with consumable material to visualize what it might look like in 3D. Finally, they took that design to Tinkercad to flex their 3D computer skills. Currently, we’re in the printing phase and next week, the battle for “Bakers Cup” will commence. The three top boats that go the furthest in our test pool, will battle it out for an all-out race in the water to see who is this year’s Baker Cup Champion.
Check out some highlights below:
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