Laser Cutter uses in K-8

[Lucie deLaBruere]

I have a colleague looking to purchase a laser cutter in their K-8 school, and I'm helping them create a pitch for their admin.  We have put together examples on how this maker tool might support learning, but feel that our list needs more example that are not etching and personalizing items.

Wonder if anyone would care to share  examples of how they are making use of a laser cutter in K-8 setting to meet the "creative and practical problem solving"  standard that would help in their pitch for a laser cutter in their makerspace.  Examples from practitioners with real students are always helpful when considering our WHY and we want to thank anyone whose willing to share.   

I'd be glad to share what we curate with this group.

Thanks in advance

Lucie deLaBruere

[Lauren Siegel]

Hi Lucie,

We use our lasercutter to make math models.  We have many many examples of real math you can explore, learn and explain with math models.  Also there are a lot of opportunities to make various versions of models deepening understanding.  Please take a look at our website www.mathhappens.org and if you are in the blog maybe sort for "take and make": https://www.mathhappens.org/?s=take+and+make, but there are ideas all over there as well.  A great start is the newly (as of May 2023) discovered monotile.   We have some short videos of math models "in motion" at this youtube playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzYXfSf4__d-poug_roPrQT4TYlYKVVI4

Please let me know if you have questions.  A lasercutter will be great for teaching math!

[Kristin Burrus]

Our district has multiple fablabs in K-12 schools and has found that teaching through PBLs is a great way to incorporate lasers, 3D printers, CNC machines, etc.  The students are solving authentic problems and can use the laser cutter (or any other maker tools) to make their prototypes.  In fact, we rarely tell them exactly what machines they have to use.  Instead, we allow them to dream up their prototypes and then coach them on what tools might best be used.  Some multidisciplinary PBL projects that we have done recently include creating a Pinball machine (with the following content standards of calculating angles, measuring velocity, creating themes, etc), making lamps (circuitry & coding), and reimagining a piece of art (history, art).  Here is a resource for our district's fablabs (https://www.vwelab.org/) I am now at a high school where we share our PBLs freely with other educators. These examples are obviously for older students, but you may be able to modify the ideas to fit K-8.  https://stemschool.hcde.org/framework/curricular/p_b_l/p_b_l_-_curriculum_units 

Good luck with your pitch!