Watch a Video: Dream It, Print It!
Discuss: What uses of 3-D printing do you think are most exciting? Explain.
Students will identify applications of 3-D printing and understand how this technology compares with traditional manufacturing.
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Lesson Plan - Just Press Print
Learning Objective
Text Structure
Description, Comparison
Content-Area Connections
Technology; STEM
Standards Correlations
CCSS: R.1, R.2, R.3, R.4, R.5, R.6, R.7, R.8, R.9, R.10, L.4, SL.1, W.1
NGSS: Engineering Design
NCSS: Science, Technology, and Society
TEKS: Social Studies 5.22, 6.18
1. Preparing to Read
Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.
- manufacturing
- customize
Set a Purpose for Reading
Point out the “As You Read” question. Have students be on the lookout for some advantages of 3-D printing.
2. Close-Reading Questions
1. What is the author’s purpose in the first two paragraphs?
The author’s purpose is to present a 3-D printed school in Malawi as an example of how 3-D printing helps solve problems.
R.5 Author’s Craft
2. How does the article support the idea that 3-D printers have advantages over traditional manufacturing?
The article supports the idea with examples of advantages. It shows that 3-D printing lets people customize objects and make things as they need them, saving time and money. It also shows that 3-D printing reduces waste and can create more complex shapes.
R.8 Reasons and Evidence
3. Based on the article, is it likely that people will one day 3-D print everything?
No, it would probably cost too much. The article says, “It’s cheaper to produce large quantities of items in factories.”
R.1 Text Evidence
3. Skill Building
FEATURED SKILL: Vocabulary
Use the skill builder “Use Your Words” to have students explore challenging words from the article.
R.4 Vocabulary
Text-to-Speech