3D Modeling of the School Building with TinkerCAD

Students develop mathematical and technical skills through hands-on work and creative problem-solving.

• Basic Math Skills: Understanding measurements, geometry, and scaling.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Planning and strategizing measurement methods.
• Intro to 3D Modeling: Familiarity with TinkerCAD (can be taught in the project).
• Teamwork: Collaborating effectively in groups.
• Creativity: Designing simplified yet accurate representations of a building.

This project enables students to explore mathematical concepts and practice problem-solving by designing and 3D printing a model of their school building. Students work in groups, applying the modeling cycle by Blum and Leiß to complete the following steps:

• Analyze the Real-World Problem: Students assess how to measure and model the school building.
• Mathematical Modeling: Groups develop strategies to collect measurements, such as using steps, ropes, or direct measurements.
• Mathematical Processing: They translate their collected data into dimensions suitable for modeling.
• Validation: Students review and adjust their models before 3D printing.

This hands-on activity fosters collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity while introducing students to 3D modeling software like TinkerCAD.

• Tools for Measurement:
  • Measuring tapes, ropes, or strings
  • Notebooks for sketches and data collection
  • A calculator (optional)
• 3D Modeling Software:
  • TinkerCAD (free and beginner-friendly)
• 3D Printer:
  • Any FDM printer capable of printing small to medium models (e.g., Prusa).
• Materials:
  • PLA or another standard filament for printing

Project Kick-Off:
Introduce the modeling cycle (Blum and Leiß) and explain the project objectives. Show an example of a 3D model and printed object to spark interest.

Measurement Planning:

• In small groups, students brainstorm how to measure their school building.
• Example methods:
  • Use steps and estimate step lengths.
  • Measure with strings or ropes and calculate the lengths.
  • Divide the building into simple geometric shapes for easier measurement.

Data Collection:
Groups walk around the school, taking measurements and noting architectural details like windows, doors, or roof shapes.

Hand Sketching:
Students create a basic hand-drawn sketch of the building, adding dimensions and design details.

Modeling in TinkerCAD:

• Introduce TinkerCAD tools: scaling, aligning, and grouping objects.
• Students recreate their sketches digitally.
• They discuss which details to simplify for 3D printing.

Validation & Refinement:
Groups check their models for consistency, accuracy, and 3D printability. The teacher provides feedback, ensuring models are ready for printing.

3D Printing:

• Upload the TinkerCAD files to the printer’s slicing software.
• Print the models one at a time using PLA filament.

Final Presentation:

• Students present their models and explain their methods.
• Discuss the challenges and learning outcomes of the project.