If you were an elementary school student (or a fully grown technology teacher), would it not be the coolest thing ever to see and use a 3D printer at school? I just found out about this opportunity with MakerBot, and even though I know it's crazy and there is so little time left, I have to try!
I teach technology at a public elementary school with nearly 400 students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Every one of them has the most incredible potential, and we want our students to be excited about what they're learning. We serve many low-income families and have resources and programs to help those families both inside and outside of the school. I am creating an entirely new technology program for the school, and am trying to incorporate more creative technology and cross-curricular STEM activities.
My Project
This 3D printer would be used in every grade level. With kindergarten and first grade, I would use whole-group activities to show how it works and work together to come up with an idea to create and print using a program like TinkerCAD. In second and third grade, we would introduce TinkerCAD (or another 3D design program) and learn how to create our own projects. In fourth and fifth grade, we would continue developing our own projects and work together to think of creative ways we could use the technology to make a difference in the world. I would also like to pair fourth and fifth graders with younger partners to work on a project together, with the younger student dreaming up the idea, and the older student helping make it a reality. Across all grade levels, this printer would be used to create manipulative materials as teachers come up with new ideas, encouraging teachers to think creatively and dream bigger, as well.
This would make a huge difference because it would motivate and empower my students to see what more they can do with technology.
They would be unbelievably excited if they got to use a 3D printer, and it would help me give them a strong foundation of creative thinking and problem-solving skills to take with them. I have so many amazing students, and I do believe that if they are given the opportunity, they can change their world for the better.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Cross and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.