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Module 3 Week 2

Assignments

Create a mold in acrylic using the laser cutter, cook biomaterials and pour into the mold created

Process

1) Using Inkscape to create the design for the mold

2) Create the mold in acrylic using the laser cutter

3) Cook gelatine, water and glycerin to get the bioplastic 4) Setting up the mold

6) Pour the solution into the mold

6) Dry the bioplastic for a few days

Trying out possible products created using bioplastic made from gelatine recipe

*Using agar-agar recipe to make bioplastic

  1. Cook agar-agar, water and glycerin to get the material
  2. Dry the bioplastic and cut the material using laser cutter in the Science Centre
    Fab Lab with the help of the instructors


dolphin on glass

3) Make two simple origami with the bioplastic

After exploring the two kinds of recipes, the biomaterial made from gelatine seems to be more like a plastic.

Reflection

**Practices in school to support sustainability across the subjects, especially
Character and Citizenship Education:

  • Reduce, reuse, recycle
  • Saving water and electricity
  • Reducing plastic and waste
  • Reusing scrap materials
  • Encouraging responsible consumption

**How Digital Fabrication Supports Sustainable Practices

  1. Reduces Material Waste Digital fabrication techniques like 3D printing or laser cutting allow precise use of materials, producing only what is needed. Unlike traditional methods, you don’t over-cut or throw away excess materials.

  2. Encourages Recycling and Reuse Digital fabrication can use recycled materials, such as filament made from
    recycled plastics. Designs can be remade or modified, reducing the need for entirely new products.

  3. Promotes Efficient Energy Use Machines can be programmed to operate efficiently, minimizing energy use compared to large-scale manufacturing.

  4. Supports Local Production Products can be made on-demand, reducing transportation emissions associated with shipping mass-produced goods.

  5. Enables Sustainable Design Designers can create lightweight, optimized structures (like lattice designs) that use less material while maintaining strength.

**Actions to Support Sustainable Practices in Digital Fabrication

  1. Plan Before You Fabricate Always design carefully to avoid mistakes that waste material. Use software to simulate or test designs digitally first.

  2. Use Eco-Friendly Materials Choose biodegradable or recycled filaments and sustainable wood or paper.

  3. Reuse and Recycle Scrap Material Collect leftover material and reuse it in future projects.

  4. Optimize Designs Make designs that minimize material usage without compromising quality. Consider modular designs that can be repaired or upgraded instead of replaced.

  5. Share and Collaborate Digitally Share design files online rather than shipping physical prototypes. Encourage others to print locally, reducing environmental impact.

  6. Switch Off and Maintain Machines Properly Turn off machines when not in use to save energy. Regular maintenance ensures machines run efficiently, reducing waste and
    energy consumption.

**Integrating culturally reflective learning + digital fabrication

Digital fabrication acts as a storytelling tool instead of a technical skill as students reveal their cultural identities, family practices, languages or religion through it. It is no longer the final fabricated object which is important but the process, reflection and dialogue.

**Project ideas using digital fabrication that highlight cultural diversity suitable for Primary 3 students

**1. “My Family Pattern Tile” (Laser cutting + colouring / simple materials)

What students will explore:
Patterns seen at home:
  • Batik
  • Peranakan tiles
  • Rangoli / kolam
  • Chinese window patterns

Digital fabrication

  • Teacher will prepare laser-cut tile templates

  • Each tile has a different pattern type

    Students will: 1. Choose one pattern that reminds them of home 2. Colour or decorate it 3. Write 1–2 sentences explaining their choice 4. Why it highlights diversity 5. Same size tile, different cultural patterns 6. Displayed together as a “Class Culture Wall”

*Curriculum links * Art (patterns) * Social Studies (family & culture) * CCE

**2. “Festival Light Panel” (Laser-cut frame + tracing paper / thin sheets)

 What students will explore
 Festivals celebrated by their families:
  • Chinese New Year
  • Hari Raya
  • Deepavali
  • Christmas, etc.

*Digital fabrication * Pre-designed laser-cut square frames * Simple shapes, not complex assembly

 Students will:
  1. Draw festival symbols on the panel

  2. Place over window or light box

    Why it highlights diversity 1. Each panel tells a festival story 2. All festivals valued equally

*Guiding question “Why is this festival important to my family?”

**3. “Food-to-Material Experiment Plate” (Bioplastics + simple moulds)

    Big idea:
    Food can be used in different ways, not just eaten.

What students will 1. explore common foods: * Agar-agar * Gelatine

  1. Make a small bioplastic sheet
  2. Press simple shapes or textures

*Cultural link * Discuss foods commonly eaten at home * Natural colouring using spices

*Digital fabrication 3D-printed or laser-cut texture plates

*Science link * Changes when heated/cooled * Materials properties *

Tools

  • Inscape, Laser cutter
  • Agar-agar, gelatine, glycerin
  • baking tray