Fourth Grade: 3D Geometric Design

 After finishing up their 2D designs the fourth grade classes learned about "form".  They started by learning how to make tight paper tubes out of newspaper that would be used to 3D geometric sculptures.  The first week they spent the entire class period perfecting their tube making skills.  The goal was to have 15-20 sturdy tubes finished and ready to use the following week.













The second week of the project was building day.  After a discussion of geometric shapes, a demo on joining and taping techniques and an brief intro to simple engineering principles the students were ready to begin. The first step was to cut the loose ends off their tubes while trimming them to the desired length. 





The next step was using masking tape to join the tube ends to make forms.  They practiced technique by building a cube or a pyramid.  After that they could add to their original form and create anything they wanted - as long as they could figure out how to do it.  The hardest part was making their creations stable.  I gave them suggestions and showed them a few examples of bracing but ultimately what they created was their choice.  In order to be successful they had to think like an artist and an engineer.  Mr Castro's class took it a step further and added paint when they got back to the classroom.