Incorporating SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids into Early Elementary to Inspire Upcoming Makers
This past October, students in the Engineering Design program at Van Buren Tech, embarked on an exciting journey to share the design world with young minds at Paw Paw Early Elementary School. In collaboration with the STEAM class at the elementary school, a team of high school students and their instructor, Josh Bridges, set out to introduce preschool through second-grade students to design with SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids.
Van Buren Tech, located in the heart of Southwest Michigan, offers a broad range of programs, from cosmetology and healthcare to fire science and engineering design. High school students gain hands-on experience with design software and tools in the Engineering Design program, including SOLIDWORKS. They learn 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC machining, and ultimately work toward their Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA) certification. With these foundational skills, students are prepared to take on real-world design challenges, and this event provided a unique opportunity to share their skills with younger students.
Bringing Design to makers Life with SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids
For this event, the high schoolers were invited to introduce design concepts to five elementary classes—one preschool, one kindergarten, and two each of first and second grade. The day’s project? Creating Halloween-inspired ghosts and goblins using SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids!
In preparation, the Van Buren Tech students familiarized themselves with SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids and crafted their own ghost and goblin designs. To simplify things for the younger students, Mr Bridges set up easy-to-access accounts with a single class login and password in SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids Classroom, allowing for a smooth experience. This setup also allowed the high school students to retrieve and prepare files for 3D printing quickly.
SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids Classroom is the solution we recommend for educators. Educators can create and organize self-contained workshops in an exciting and easy-to-use environment. As it comes with free, fun and diverse lesson plans, educators can plan their lessons with less preparation time. Check out all the SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids Classroom here.
The day began with a quick demonstration from Mr. Bridges on how to use SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids. With Chromebooks ready, each elementary student dove into the design process. They started with simple shapes, transforming them into whimsical ghosts, goblins, and even ice cream cones – whatever sparked their imagination! They explored the Style It app to add colors and backgrounds, and the 30-minute sessions flew by as they enthusiastically brought their designs to life.
From Virtual Design to Tangible Creations
After the school visit, the Van Buren Tech students returned to their lab to refine the designs, preparing them for 3D printing. Using Bambu Lab printers, they printed the designs, carefully packaged each one, and delivered them back to the elementary school. By Halloween day, the young designers had their creations ready for painting and decorating—a perfect way to celebrate their work!
The elementary STEAM teacher shared how much the students enjoyed the experience and noted they were eager for more. The high school students also found value in the project, from applying their design skills to leading younger peers through the creative process.
A Pathway to Future Innovators
This hands-on experience highlights how SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids can be an inspiring entry point into the design world for younger learners. Through these collaborative projects, younger students can see the possibilities in design and engineering, potentially igniting a passion that leads them to pursue further studies in STEAM fields.
The success of this event has encouraged Van Buren Tech’s Engineering Design program to consider more activities with other classrooms, aiming to inspire the next generation of makers and creators.
Thank you, Mr. Josh Bridges, for your dedication to fostering creativity and inspiring the younger generation through engaging STEAM activities!
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