Platonic Solids Snowman Math Challenge
Students will research and study the Platonic solids, then pick 3 platonic solids to construct a snowman with the 3Doodler Create+ pen. Student groups will give a presentation on the solids they chose and share their snowman creations.
Knowledge
Students have
used 3Doodler Create+ pens or been given time to practice with them
experience using the Internet for research projects
used 3Doodler Create+ pens or been given time to practice with them
experience using the Internet for research projects
Objectives
Students will
work together in teams to research Platonic Solids
identify characteristics of 3 Platonic Solids, including faces, vertices, and edges
use 3Doodler pens to build models of each of the 3 selected solids
Create a snowman “sculpture” using their 3 solids and embellishments (hat, buttons, nose)
work together in teams to research Platonic Solids
identify characteristics of 3 Platonic Solids, including faces, vertices, and edges
use 3Doodler pens to build models of each of the 3 selected solids
Create a snowman “sculpture” using their 3 solids and embellishments (hat, buttons, nose)
Materials
Students will need
3Doodler Create+ Pens (one per group)
Access to Internet sources for research
3Doodler Create+ Pens (one per group)
Access to Internet sources for research
Lesson Plan
Instructions
Step 1
Introduce the history of Platonic Solids as representations of the 5 elements that were once defined in ancient times: earth, air, water, fire, and the universe.
Step 2
Individual students will complete preliminary research on Platonic Solids. They will need to answer the following questions: What is a Platonic Solid? How many are there? Why is it impossible to make more Platonic Solids? Which one is most interesting to you? Why? Have student volunteers share their initial information with the class.
Step 3
Break students into groups of 3, each one choosing a different Platonic Solid to research. The teams will be responsible for completing the entire Platonic Solids Research Chart by the end of the project but need only complete their individual Solids prior to presentations.
Step 4
Upon completion of the research chart for the 3 Platonic Solids chosen by the team, students will share their information with their teacher. Upon teacher approval, teams will receive the materials needed to build their Platonic Solid models: a 3Doodler Create+, filament, a Doodle Mat, and templates. Students should begin constructing their models.
The teacher may want to share these tips:
Remember how Platonic Solids are formed. You will not necessarily be able to draw
your model in 3D form. You will have to build it using the polygon that makes the Solid’s face.
You will have to work together. It takes more than 2 hands to create a 3D model of a Platonic Solid.
You will need to use your 3Doodler as both a “printer” and a “glue gun”. The “printer” stage requires making the faces of your Solid. The “glue gun” stage requires using your pen like a hot glue gun.
Have students practice using 3Doodler Create+ pens: What is filament? What does it mean to extrude filament? What do the buttons do? How do you connect 2 pieces of extruded plastic? Students who have never used a 3Doodler before may want to practice extruding filament.
Pay particular attention to safety precautions while using 3Doodler Create+ pens, especially how to avoid burning yourself. Make sure students do not have pens plugged in across working/walking surfaces. Reinforce that pens should be turned off and unplugged when not in use to avoid potential burns. Keep pens from melting/burning countertops, etc. but setting them down appropriately. NEVER doodle on any surface other than the 3Doodler DoodlePad.
Step 5
Once the snowmen are complete, groups should present their models, using the vocabulary in this lesson. During the presentations, teams should fill in their research chart for the remaining 2 Platonic Solids not covered by their own project.
Introduce the history of Platonic Solids as representations of the 5 elements that were once defined in ancient times: earth, air, water, fire, and the universe.
Individual students will complete preliminary research on Platonic Solids. They will need to answer the following questions: What is a Platonic Solid? How many are there? Why is it impossible to make more Platonic Solids? Which one is most interesting to you? Why? Have student volunteers share their initial information with the class.
Break students into groups of 3, each one choosing a different Platonic Solid to research. The teams will be responsible for completing the entire Platonic Solids Research Chart by the end of the project but need only complete their individual Solids prior to presentations.
Upon completion of the research chart for the 3 Platonic Solids chosen by the team, students will share their information with their teacher. Upon teacher approval, teams will receive the materials needed to build their Platonic Solid models: a 3Doodler Create+, filament, a Doodle Mat, and templates. Students should begin constructing their models.
The teacher may want to share these tips:
Remember how Platonic Solids are formed. You will not necessarily be able to draw
your model in 3D form. You will have to build it using the polygon that makes the Solid’s face.
You will have to work together. It takes more than 2 hands to create a 3D model of a Platonic Solid.
You will need to use your 3Doodler as both a “printer” and a “glue gun”. The “printer” stage requires making the faces of your Solid. The “glue gun” stage requires using your pen like a hot glue gun.
Have students practice using 3Doodler Create+ pens: What is filament? What does it mean to extrude filament? What do the buttons do? How do you connect 2 pieces of extruded plastic? Students who have never used a 3Doodler before may want to practice extruding filament.
Pay particular attention to safety precautions while using 3Doodler Create+ pens, especially how to avoid burning yourself. Make sure students do not have pens plugged in across working/walking surfaces. Reinforce that pens should be turned off and unplugged when not in use to avoid potential burns. Keep pens from melting/burning countertops, etc. but setting them down appropriately. NEVER doodle on any surface other than the 3Doodler DoodlePad.
Once the snowmen are complete, groups should present their models, using the vocabulary in this lesson. During the presentations, teams should fill in their research chart for the remaining 2 Platonic Solids not covered by their own project.
Wrap Up
Assessment
Possible Extensions
Resources
Vocabulary
cube - a regular three-dimensional shape composed of six square faces.
DODECAHEDRON - has 12 pentagonal faces; has 20 vertices with three pentagonal faces meeting
FACE - one 2 dimensional shape that makes up a side of a Platonic Solid
ICOSAHEDRON - has 20 triangular faces; has 12 vertices with five triangular faces meeting
OCTAHEDRON - eight equilateral triangles joined along 12 edges to make six vertices or corners
PLATONIC SOLIDS - a regular, convex polyhedron in a three-dimensional space with equivalent faces composed of congruent convex regular polygonal faces
TETRAHEDRON - four equilateral triangles joined along six edges to form four vertices or corners
VERTEX (VERTICES) - corner; place where sides of a Platonic Solid meet
Educational Standards
Use tools and methods for collaboration on a project to increase connectivity of people in different cultures and career fields.
Students will work on their research together, in a common document and presentation.
Collaborate with many contributors through strategies such as crowdsourcing or surveys when creating a computational artifact.
Students will create a presentation that incorporates the research collected from all group members.
Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating an understanding of the subject under investigation.
Students will research platonic solids in preparation for a presentation as well as building a model of several solids to create a snowman.
Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Students will base models of solids on their research.
Students understand the fundamental concepts of technology operations, demonstrate the ability to choose, use and troubleshoot current technologies and are able to transfer their knowledge to explore emerging technologies.
Students will reflect on the ease of use of the 3Doodler and consider the potential of making models for math class.
Students choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication.
Students will choose the platform best suited to sharing their research and presentation.
Students use collaborative technologies to work with others, including peers, experts or community members, to examine issues and problems from multiple viewpoints.
Students will share their research with other team members to complete their projects.
Students contribute constructively to project teams, assuming various roles and responsibilities to work effectively toward a common goal.
Students will work together to research platonic solids and create presentations.
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