3D Printed Measuring Cups: Middle School Volume Activity

I am a Middle School Special Education teacher and have used this activity in my small group self contained math class. I have found Tinkercad and my 3D printer to be powerful tools to help build understanding and motivators.

3D printers and user friendly design software such as Tinkercad are a powerful motivator for students to take concepts learned in class and apply them to real world projects. This activity can take around 3 class periods depending on if you need to provide Tinkercad instruction or reteaching time, and the overall skill level of students.

As an extension project following lessons on calculating volume I had my students complete an activity where they designed measuring cups that I would then print. While I did not have access to a printer at school, I am fortunate enough to have my own printer on which I would print students finished products. This project could be completed without a printer and just viewed in the 3D environment.

-Tinkercad

-3D Printer (This project could be completed without printing, however that is a large part of the motivation)

-Prior knowledge of calculating volume

-Prior knowledge of solving equations

-Rulers and measuring cups (optional)

-Approximately 3 class periods, depending on skill level

I highly recommend the tutorials in Tinkercad to help students learn the basic functions of the program. The ability to precisely size, group shapes and use cutouts will be important skills to complete this project. I would recommend having students complete the first 11 tutorials. They can be completed in a relatively short amount of time.

The volume of a rectangular prism, cylinder are likely the easiest to utilize for this activity. Depending on the group a cone could provide an extra challenge for calculations.

The students will be applying their knowledge of calculating volume to complete this activity. This takes the calculations of volume beyond the simple rote completion of expressions to a more real world application and understanding. There are also going to be mathematical conversions needed to be completed.

A few important measurements needed are:

1 Cubic Centimeter (cm^3) = 1 Milliliter (mL)

1 Cup (c) = 250 Milliliters (mL)*

A 1 cup measure could just be the first stage of this project. Incorporate ratios into this activity by having students create fractional size measuring cups as well.

*For my purposes I used the baking conversions since we are making measuring cups. Also 250 is a much cleaner number for middle school aged students to work with.

Some tactile exploration can be helpful at this stage as students will need to choose some appropriate measurements of their own measuring cups. Spending a little time with actual measuring cups and rulers to get a rough idea of sizes can be helpful when trying to conceptualize what they should start with. Knowing that having a measuring cup with a base diameter of 100cm is not practical but 100mm would be can be helpful to understand before starting their design phase.

Having the ability to complete equations is also important at this stage. Students will need to choose a specific measurement of one variable within the equations, and then calculate the missing variables to get the internal measurements of their measuring cup*. I also tend to round measurements to nearest tenth and call it good enough.

*Depending on the skill level of your group or individuals you may want to provide one or more of the measurements for the students, and then have them focus on just completing the calculations.

The hardest and most important part is calculating and creating the internal volume shape. I recommend having students start with this shape. Once they have this completed they can set it off to the side of the build plate and lock it so it does not accidentally get altered or deleted, perhaps even make a copy of it to be used to build their measuring cup around.

Now you can set them off to design some kind of unique measuring cup from which they will use this shape to cut out.

Once students have finished their design, celebrating their accomplishment is huge. They have just taken what can feel like meaningless rote mathematics and applied it to a real world application. If you have the ability to print all the better. Let them test out their measuring cup with others to see if they match up.

While it can seem hard to find the time for extra activities look at all the skills that have been practiced in the completion of this project. It is very much worth the time it takes, which truthfully is not all that much.

Students have worked with:

-Volume

-Equations

-Measurement

-Conversions

-Problem Solving

-Ratios (if you have them work with fractional sizes)

I used this activity in my Special Education math classes and it was a huge motivator for them and it helped them build a deeper understanding of the concepts taught in class.