* This is a free lesson that is part of The PrintLab Classroom lesson portal. To view details of the full portal, click here. *
In this two-part lesson, students will be designing and 3D printing a personalized Egyptian obelisk. The lesson begins with a presentation and discussion session about hieroglyphics and obelisk monuments. Following the presentation, students will be split up into teams and given a 3D-printed obelisk model, prepared by the teacher prior to the lesson. The mission for the teams is to decipher the hieroglyphic word and research its meaning and relevance to ancient Egypt. The lesson ends with students presenting their findings. In the second lesson, students will use a tutorial video to design and 3D print their own personalized obelisk! Enrolling in PrintLab Classroom will give you complete access to the teacher training material and lesson documents. This includes content to help you prepare and deliver the lessons along with design tutorials so you become familiar with the process prior to teaching it in the classroom.
The lesson can be incorporated into the study of history, religion, technology, art, and design. The material can be adapted for ages 7-16.
In this project students will:
- Develop an understanding of hieroglyphics—the formal written language of ancient Egypt
- Use a simplified hieroglyphic alphabet to decipher Egyptian words
- Understand the basic architectural design of Egyptian obelisks
- Use knowledge of hieroglyphics to create a personalized obelisk using CAD software and 3D printing
Equipment List
Each student will require:
1 x laptop/computer with mouse and internet access
1 x pen/pencil
The teacher will require:
1 x 3D printer and PLA filament
1 x laptop/computer with mouse, internet access, and slicing software for the 3D printer
5 x demonstration models (STL provided in lesson materials)
