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Day 4: TinkerCAD Iteration + Trash to Treasure

Lesson Overview
Time 50 minutes
Objectives Refine TinkerCAD building design with structured checkpoints; complete the H&L "Trash to Treasure" landscape architecture activity
TEKS d(1)(C)
Deliverable PNG screenshot of TinkerCAD building (exported via "Send To") + Trash to Treasure design sketch
Materials Chromebooks, TinkerCAD accounts, H&L Workbook Ch 3 (pp. 44-46: Trash to Treasure), projector, plain paper

Warm-Up (5 min)

WARM-UP: Look at your building design from yesterday. Write down ONE specific thing you want to improve today and WHY.

Have 2-3 students share their improvement plans. This sets intentional goals for the work session rather than undirected tinkering.

Activity 1: Design Iteration with Checkpoints (20 min)

Students continue building their 3D designs in TinkerCAD. Rather than open-ended work time, use three timed checkpoints to keep students on track and ensure quality:

Checkpoint 1 — by minute 7

Walls and roof are built and grouped. All wall shapes and the roof should be combined into a single grouped object. If a student did not finish walls and roof on Day 3, use the first 5 minutes today to complete them, raise a hand for a quick teacher check before moving on to holes. Circulate and verify, if a student's shapes are not grouped, help them select all and press Group (Ctrl+G).

Checkpoint 2 — by minute 14

Door and window openings are cut. At least 1 door hole and 2 window holes should be visible. If students are struggling with the Hole tool, project a quick refresher: drag box → change to Hole → overlap with wall → select both → Group.

Checkpoint 3 — by minute 20

One detail element is added. Interior wall, color change, landscaping element (trees using cylinders + spheres), a second floor, or signage. This pushes students beyond the minimum spec.

After Checkpoint 3, students export a PNG screenshot of their design:

  1. Click the "Send To" button (top right of TinkerCAD)
  2. Select "Download as PNG"
  3. Save the file with their name: LastName_Building.png

This PNG is the deliverable they will present on Day 5.

Facilitation Tip

Walk with a clipboard and physically check each student's screen at each checkpoint. Mark: walls (✓), openings (✓), detail (✓). Students who are behind get immediate one-on-one support rather than discovering at the end of class that they are not ready.

Activity 2: H&L "Trash to Treasure" Activity (20 min)

Source: H&L Workbook Ch 3, pp. 44-46, "Trash to Treasure" (Career Climb activity)

Transition from digital design to landscape architecture. Introduce the concept: architects don't just design new buildings, some of the most creative projects involve transforming unwanted spaces into places people love.

Direct students to the Trash to Treasure activity in their H&L workbook. The scenario:

You are an architect who specializes in outdoor spaces. The city has tasked you with reclaiming a landfill to make it an outdoor space for residents to enjoy. You must consider aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability.

Student task (from workbook):

Step 1: Choose Your Outdoor Space. The workbook offers ideas:

  • A park with walking trails, picnic spots, and playgrounds
  • An outdoor art museum with sculptures and murals
  • An amphitheater for concerts and performances
  • A community garden where people can grow their own food
  • A recreation area for outdoor sports and gathering

Students also consider: Who will use your space? What features will they need?

Step 2: Sketch Your Design: choose ONE perspective in the 20-min window (students with time remaining may add the second):

  • Map View (bird's-eye): Pathways, green areas, buildings, seating, and special features with labels. OR
  • Feature Sketch (person's perspective): One key feature (entrance gate, pavilion, viewing deck) as a visitor would see it.

Pick the view that best shows your outdoor space idea. The workbook provides both sketch boxes; you only need to complete one today.

Step 3: Add Sustainable Design Feature. Name and label at least one:

  • Green roofs or living walls
  • Recycled materials for benches, paths, or art
  • Shady areas to keep people cool
  • Rain gardens for water runoff management

Step 4: Present and Share. Partners present their designs, describe their favorite feature ("Wow Factor"), and get constructive feedback.

Extension (from workbook)

Partners merge their two designs into one shared outdoor space, combining the best elements from both.

DOK 4: If a city council asked you to justify the cost of turning a landfill into a public park, what evidence would you use? How does this connect to urban planning as a career?

Exit Ticket (5 min)

EXIT TICKET (Comparison Matrix) · Printable PDF:

My TinkerCAD building vs. my Trash to Treasure outdoor space — compare on three dimensions.

My TinkerCAD building My Trash to Treasure outdoor space
Who uses it? (specific audience)
ONE aesthetic choice (looks-good element)
ONE sustainable or reclaimed feature (if any)

Bottom line: Which design of the two balances aesthetics + functionality + sustainability BEST, and why? Use one cell from the matrix to back the pick. (d(1)(C))

Differentiation

  • Support: For Trash to Treasure, provide a pre-labeled map template with pathways and zones already drawn, students add features to the zones rather than designing from a blank page.
  • Extension: Students 3D model their Trash to Treasure outdoor space feature in TinkerCAD, build the entrance gate, pavilion, or playground structure.
  • ELL: Key terms for Trash to Treasure: Sustainability = Sustentabilidad, Landfill = Vertedero/Basurero, Reclaim = Reclamar. The sketch activity is visual and accessible.