Students in Megan Baker's grade 2/3 class at École Ste-Marguerite Bourgeoys just completed a design project on the class's 3-D printer for the Religious Education program at their school. The project came about when the Religious Education Teachers approached the class to see if they could create a set of sacred vessels that the children could use to learn about Eucharist and Mass. The sets were such a success; they are being mass-produced for all the elementary schools within the Kenora Catholic District School Board.
Religious Education Teacher Marie Lundin talks about the project. "We wanted a set of sacred vessels the students could play with and manipulate to help them learn about the Eucharist and Mass. The students love playing with the set. They role play mass. Someone will be Father Rudy, and they create a procession and are very reverent with the vessels. It's really amazing to watch their learning and play unfold. Because the students made the vessels themselves, it's meaningful to the students."
Megan Baker talks about some of the challenges of the project. "There was a lot of problem-solving involved in this project. Claire designed the cruets. She had to design the tray first and then decide what size the cups had to be to fit into the tray. There was a lot of time spent making sure the sizes would fit and the dimensions were right. Fenton designed the Bible with moveable hinges. This design took a lot of trial and error. We looked at different hinges in the school to be able to see the best avenue regarding stability and durability."
The class will be mass-producing 7 - 9 sets and each set takes approximately 20 hours to print. Sets will be provided to St. Louis School, St. John School and Pope John Paul II School. Each set consists of a cross, ciborium, chalice, candle, cross, cruets and a Bible that has hinges.
A few students in the class created a Stop-Motion video using the new sacred vessels set:
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The class will be printing between 7 - 9 larger sets that will be used in all elementary schools within the Kenora Catholic District School Board.
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The class also has a miniature set that they will keep in their classroom.
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Fenton is showing the final design of the hinges of the Bible.
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The Bible was one of the most challenging pieces to create because of the moveable hinges. Fenton studied hinges that he found throughout his class to find the right design for this project.
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Chelsea is holding the ciborium.
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Lilly has the chalice
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Claire spent a great deal of time problem-solving the cruets. A lot of detail had to be spent on getting the dimensions just right so the pieces would fit together.
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Jasper is holding the cross.
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Mehki is holding the candle
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A lot of research went into exactly how to make the hinges of the Bible so it could be a moveable part.
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