Community Connections in 3D at Royall Elementary The humming sound of 3D printers often fills the air at Royall Elementary School as students of all ages imagine, design, and build original creations on a daily basis. This year, some of the things created by our students have included bubble wands, miniature models of South Carolina, drink coasters, and paintbrush holders for the school art room. Conversations with students reveal that they enjoy the process of bringing things to life in 3D and see the power that 3D printing has to improve their education. A second grade student, Jordan Huntley-Myers stated, “3D printing is fun because you can make anything you can imagine. And, it helps you with math because measuring the size of things that you print is really important.” Students also understand that 3D printing could play a role in their future career paths. Third grader Maggie Barlow shared, “I think it is important to know about 3D printing because one day you might be a doctor and need to know how to print prosthetic body parts for people who need them.” This year, 3D printing at Royall has definitely had a community connection as students have worked on 3D printing projects in conjunction with the Florence Area Humane Society and General Electric. Fourth grade students designed and printed leash holders for dogs and animal-themed magnets as a fundraiser. Their efforts raised over $200 for the Florence Humane Society and increased student awareness about 3D printing as a way to improve life for people and animals. Marci Gatewood, the facilitator of Royall’s Innovation Center said, “This project was really important to me because I want our students to see 3D printers as more than just cool toys. 3D printing has the potential to make our world a better place, and students don’t have to wait until they are adults to be a part of that effort.” John Shuman, an engineer at General Electric, shared his knowledge about 3D printing with sixth grade students at Royall during the after-school Bright Minds Club. Under Mr. Shurman’s leadership, students had the opportunity to delve deeper into the design process by designing rubber-band cars with the use of the Tinkercad program. This was a collaborative project that required the students to apply advanced mathematical calculations and conduct extensive redesigning in order to achieve success. Students who participated in this experience not only felt inspired by the chance to spend time with a real engineer, but also gained a better understanding of the connection between 3D printing and manufacturing. Royall Elementary School Principal Julie Smith is enthusiastic about the school’s efforts in 3D printing. “Exposing our students to 3D printing at the elementary level allows them to solve real-world design challenges in a way that is innovative and fun. It fosters the creativity, problem solving, and collaboration skills that we strive to promote each day at Royall. ”
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