About this resource
The lesson asks students to design their ultimate treehouse. Guided by questions such as:
What will it look like?
What materials will you use?
What furniture will you choose?
What will you do for fun?
What shapes will you use?
What features will it have?
Design your treehouse using Tinkercad and 3-D print (if possible) your prototype. Use your school or library Makerspace to build a replica of your treehouse. Write a proposal to gain support and/or funding from your community to build the actual treehouse. Work independently or with a partner to create Treehouse, Inc. - the Treehouse of your dreams.
Curriculum & Standards
Related General Curriculum / Common Core Area
Engineering/Creativity/Critical Thinking/Collaboration
Related Curriculum / Common Core Standard
NGSS Engineering Standards:
MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
AASL Standards:
- Engage - Demonstrate safe, legal, and ethical creating and sharing of knowledge products independently while engaging in a community of practice and an interconnected world. D. Grow Learners engage with information to extend personal learning by: 1. Personalizing their use of information and information technologies.
- Explore - Discover and innovate in a growth mindset developed through experience and reflection. B. Create - Learners construct new knowledge by: 1. Problem solving through cycles of design, implementation, and reflection. 2. Persisting through self-directed pursuits by tinkering and making.
What students will do
- Students will use creative problem solving to design the ultimate treehouse.
- Students will use TinkerCad during the design process.
- Students will use the principles of building and design to create the ultimate treehouse.
To use creative problem solving, TinkerCad, and principles of building and design to create a treehouse.
Resources Needed
Internet access and computers, (per group) poster paper, colored pencils, markers, Tinkercad.com, 3-D printer (optional), materials to create model of ultimate treehouse.
Lesson sequence & procedures
Design your treehouse using Tinkercad and 3-D print (if possible) your prototype. Use your school or library Makerspace to build a replica of your treehouse. Write a proposal to gain support and/or funding from your community to build the actual treehouse. Work independently or with a partner to create Treehouse, Inc. - the Treehouse of your dreams.
How learning is assessed
- Students have used creative problem solving to design the ultimate treehouse.
- Students have used TInkerCad during the design process.
- Students have used the principles of building and design to create the ultimate treehouse.