The design students in Megan Baker's Grade 2/3 class have moved on to their next research project involving their 3D printer. The students were approached to see if they could figure out how to create a fidget spinner, and it all starts with getting the bearings just right.
Teacher Megan Baker talks about the challenge. "A colleague showed us a 3D printed gear that a friend downloaded from the internet and asked my students what they thought it could be used for. A student said, "a fidget!" And then that's when it sparked some interest on how we could make them."
The students have been researching, and discussing how to create the bearings.
"Yesterday they broke into groups to discuss the design and how the ball bearing functions," says Baker.
Students broke out into small groups with a few drawing on the board to explain their thinking. Then they pulled apart the ball bearing to see how it was designed.
"Through their investigation and discussion, they have some new insight into how they can design and print these pieces on the class 3D printer. It's the best collaboration I've seen this school year."
A fidget spinner is a type of stress relieving toy. A basic fidget spinner consists of a bearing in the center of a design made from any of a variety of materials including plastic.