Free Lesson Plans for Teachers Please Print Me a Toothbrush

Pass-Ed's Living Textbook
Free Lesson Plans for Teachers
Alpha Stage

The New York Times is running an article entitled, "Beam It Down
From the Web, Scotty."

The article states, "Three- dimensional printers have been seen in
industrial design shops for about a decade. They are used to test part
designs for cars, airplanes and other products before they are sent to
manufacturing. Once well over $100,000 each, such machines can
now be had for $15,000. In the next two years, prices are expected to
fall further, putting the printers in reach of small offices and even
corner copy stores."

According to the article Cornell University Professor Hod Lipson, who
has significant experience with 3D printers said, "In the future,
everyone will have a printer like this at home..You can imagine printing
a toothbrush, a fork, a shoe. Who knows where it will go from here?"

Read the Article!!

Discussion-Starters for Younger Children

Explain that ever though printers exist that can make things,
they will be very expensive when people are able to buy them.
Pose: Imagine that you wanted to be able to use a computer but
could not afford to buy one, what would you do? Why?

In groups of two or three, ask students to develop plans.

Would your students rather own a toy that they bought in a
store or the same toy printed on a printer? Why?

Using a T-Chart compare reasons why each option may
be preferable.

If your students could print out one toy that they've seen what
would they print? Why?

Consider asking students to draw a picture of this toy.

What do your students think will be used more often, a printer
that prints on paper or a printer that makes objects? Why?

Ask students to write a few sentences explaining when
it would be good to use each type of printer.

Discussion-Starters for Older Students

Vocabulary terms to discuss: Incubator; "Rapid Prototypers";
"Topographical Map"; and, Disgruntled.

According to the article, A. Michael Berman said, "When laser
printers cost more than $5,000, nobody knew they needed
desktop publishing." Ask your students what they think this
statement has to do with 3D printers. Do they think that this
statement is true? Why/why not? Do people really need regular
printers? Why/why not? Will they need 3D printers? Explain!

Consider asking students to respond to these questions
in a quick write.

Do your students think that it will ever be truly possible to
beam somebody from one place to another? Why/why not? If it
was possible, to where would your students want to be
beamed? Why?