K-12 Design Project: Freight Car & Train

This project - structurally designed for a full classroom (20 - 34 students) at the 5-12 grade-level (though it could absolutely be adapted to work for younger or older) - is intended to help students develop the mindset of a designer. The over-arching understanding that this project hopes to cultivate is that identifying & modeling basic elements that repeat throughout a design first, then duplicating and assembling those elements into larger and larger structures allows designers to work more efficiently.

This concept is explored with a simple train set, but the same learning goals can come from many other contexts. For example, I've also used a picket fence design with my students to incredible effect. With both the train and picket fence, 10th and 11th grade students have been able to explore the software we've been using (typically, Tinkercad), I've found that this project offers just the right balance of constraints and freedom for students across a variety skill levels to be expressive creatively while hitting intended learning goals. As well, this project has produced incredible results in a non-selective, non-"opt-in" classroom at a Title 1 school in New York City.

One thing to note: while the finished product could be a 3D print, that has never been practical in the typical high school classroom setting. I've always had a printed poster for the finished product featuring one or more screenshots of the design with an explanation as to the process, important CAD tools used, and reflections on how the project influenced the way they will approach future designs.

This thing was made with Tinkercad. Edit it online https://www.tinkercad.com/things/0RO6WsH2yGn