Challenge 053 · Ages 9–16
Cookie Cutter Designer
Design a cookie cutter.
Recommended Guided Learning Time: 2.5 hours
Learners may require additional or fewer hours depending on age, prior experience, pace and the level of development they choose to take their project to.
Primary STEAM area
Technology
The Challenge
What will your learner investigate?
Can you design a cookie cutter. and explain the choices that make your solution effective?
Learning outcomes
- Create a three-dimensional design that meets a defined purpose.
- Use scale, dimensions and spatial reasoning accurately.
- Evaluate and refine the model for printability, function or appearance.
Connected learning
Design & Technology: CAD and prototyping; Mathematics: geometry, scale and measurement; Art: form and aesthetics; Computing: digital modelling.
Dream Areas
Prepare for this Challenge
What you'll need
Here's what may be useful for completing this activity. Requirements may vary depending on the learner, activity format and equipment available.
Materials & consumables
- 3D-print plastic printing filament (material fed into a 3D printer) for a display-only first model made to test an idea
- design sketches
- optional food-safe certified production material for a separately validated food-contact version.
Equipment, tools & software
- computer-aided design (CAD) software for drawing 3D models
- 3D printer
- callipers (a tool for measuring small dimensions accurately)
- sample dough or modelling clay for non-food-contact testing.
Safety & preparation
- Ordinary hobby 3D prints are not automatically food-safe. Keep classroom first model made to test an ideas for display or modelling-clay use unless a validated food-contact manufacturing process is used.
These preparation notes support planning and do not replace a project-specific risk assessment or appropriate adult supervision.