The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project
3D Printing a Bubble Wand
3D Printing a Bubble Wand
A 2nd-6th grade STEM lesson
Tina Kennedy
6/1/24
Notes for teachers
List of Materials:
Instructional Items:
Standards
ISTE - Use 3D design tools to create prototypes, models and simulations to demonstrate solutions and ideas. 4C, 5B, 5C, 5D, 6C
AZ MATH STANDARDS 4.MD.A Solve problems involving measurement and conversion of measurements from a larger unit to a smaller unit.
4.MD.A.1
NGSS - 3-5-ETS1-1. Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
Day 1 Objectives
Today we will explore 3D printers and the many products they can make.
Today you will use your Google Classroom to open the Tinkercad link and also open the Tinkercad JOIN CLASS with your nickname I assigned to you.
Today we will explore Tinkercad for 3D printing.
Today we will practice with metric measurements.
Today we will practice adding and changing shape sizes.
Day 2 Objectives
Today we will create in Tinkercad the basic shapes for a bubble wand.
Today we will modify and change premade shapes to follow specific constraints.
Today we will practice with metric measurements.
Today we will use the HOLE feature to hollow out the bubble wand shape.
Today we will group the basic shape and hole to remove materials (subtractive).
Day 3 Objectives
Today we will continue in Tinkercad to finish a bubble wand with specific constraints.
Today we will complete combining shapes to finish the bubble wand.
Today we will use the GROUP feature to make the various shapes into one object.
Today you will recheck your constraints for size and height and make changes if needed.
Agenda (45 minutes each class period)
Day 1:
Videos about 3D printers.
Log into Tinkercad and JOIN CLASS with the link provided using the NICKNAME assigned by the teacher.
Navigate Tinkercad’s homepage and file design page.
Create a practice file to add and adjust the sizes of shapes.
Day 2:
Start a new Tinkercad file to begin the bubble wand project.
Choose a cylinder to start your bubble wand blower.
Create a shape using the HOLE feature to remove the inside space area.
GROUP to merge the two shapes.
Agenda (45 minutes each class period)
Day 3:
Review Day 2’s directions and students will check their measurements. Make changes as needed.
Make sure your shapes and HOLE feature are correct sizes.
ALIGN then GROUP your finished shapes.
What is a 3D printer?
Day 1-3 Hands-on Activity Instructions
Google Slides and more details
Hands-On Activity: I create a new Tinkercad Classroom for each class. Once students are logged into Tinkercad, I have students open a link from Tinkercad in my Google Classroom that shares their files with me. Another option is to use your free Educator account and create individual classes. I created “nicknames” for students (their first name) and shared the link for students to log into their Tinkercad class with their nickname. By students joining my Tinkercad classroom, I can edit and download their work to an .stl file for 3D printing. In order to print, I use Ultimaker-Cura for my Jellybox printer or Makerbot for my Replicator+ printer to slice the files into a compatible file for the 3D printer. The slicer site will convert my .stl file into a .gcode file automatically. I use a SD Card or USB flash drive to insert into the printer to print.
Remind students there is an UNDO arrow that can retrieve something deleted accidentally or if they distort the shape, using the UNDO button can restore back to previous changes.
Exporting Tips
Students do not email their finished file to me. If students have joined my Tinkercad classroom link I shared in their Google Classroom, the students presses THAT’S ME. I can now see them in my Tinkercad roster and can open a student’s file and edit, make changes if necessary, then EXPORT their file. Export tip: Click/select the grouped object in Tinkercad then when you press EXPORT, choose “The Selected Shape” and .stl option.
Students sometimes have floating shapes outside the blue workplane that are hard to see and random shapes can be downloaded with the print file creating a print error.
Assessment
Differentiation
I find it is helpful not only to present the Slides but I also make a new Tinkercad file and alternate between my Slides and showing them on my projector the directions. That can really help get everyone on the same step again.
Students monitor their neighbors for support as needed. If students are really lost, I ask them to stay on the current direction and I can always come back and help them after.
Absent students can refer to my Screencastify for a video of the directions.
Remediation
Extension/Enrichment
This activity is a basic bubble wand. My after school class used the SCRIBBLE feature and drew out their bubble wand ideas and free-hand drew the bubble blower design. I emphasized the more closed shapes you have, the more bubbles you will create.
Students could choose to use the basic shapes and directions using premade shapes as an option, too.
Students that finished early were great helpers with students that needed support or were absent and needing to finish making their bubble wands.
Once the bubble wands were printed, we had a bubble blowing day and tested different bubble solutions. Students brought their bubble wands home at the end of class.
Resources
Student examples in Tinkercad