“Flat Stanley” Keychain


Grade Level
2, 3, 4, 5, and 6


Difficulty
Easy


Duration
1 hour 30 minutes

Subjects

Art
Design & technology
English
STEAM

Standards

  • Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals.

  • Students leverage technology to take an active role in choosing, achieving, and demonstrating competency in their learning goals, informed by the learning sciences.

Vocab

Character Traits
Empathy

Author

Danesa Menge (Glowforge Education Ambassador)

Licensing

Overview

What would it be like to be Flat Stanley? In this activity, students will develop design skills and empathy as they create their own version of the character.

Objective

Students will…

  • Brainstorm character traits that best represent themselves
  • Draw and use Glowforge to design their own “Flat Stanley” to represent themselves
  • Record their explanation of how the design shows who they are using Flipgrid (or Google Slides, PowerPoint, etc.) 

Standards:

ISTE Standards for Students

  1. 1.1 Empowered Learner – Students leverage technology to take an active role in choosing, achieving, and demonstrating competency in their learning goals, informed by the learning sciences.
  2. 1.6 Creative Communicator – Students create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.

Supplies

  • Wood or Acrylic 
  • Keychain Loops
  • Materials for Customization (e.g., Markers, Stickers, Pens, or Paint)
  • Paper
  • Pencil
  • Dark Marker

Description

Lesson Outline:

Get Ready:

    1. Read or play the story, Flat Stanley with the class.
    2. Using Jamboard, have students answer the prompt: Where would you go if you were a “Flat Stanley?”
    3. On the next slide of Jamboard, have students answer, What kind of “Flat Stanley” would you like to be? (Paper, keychain, wood, sticker, etc.)
    4. Finally, have students brainstorm character traits that best represent themselves.

Production Time:

Print – <5 Minutes per “Flat Stanley”

Assemble – 30 – 45 minutes

Lesson Instructions

  1. Reflect on Flat Stanley. (Other characters/story may be used.)
    • What would it be like to be “Flat Stanley”?
    • Allow students to pair up and share.

  2. Pass out drawing paper.

  3. Have students  draw “Flat Stanley” versions of themselves using the character traits they’ve identified as representative of their personalities or values.

  4. Students will then convert their drawings to Glowforge designs using the Trace feature.

  5. Use the Shape and Outline features in the Glowforge Premium App to create the keychain ring hole and outline to cut out the keychain.
    • Criteria and Constraints
      • Max width: 50mm
      • Max length: 75mm
      • Must have a 2 mm hole for keychain ring
      • Must represent you

  6. Encourage students to use the text, shape, and graphics tools to customize and personalize their designs further.

  7. Print!
  8. Create a Flipgrid introduction of how their “Flat Stanley” best represents themselves.
    • What were the challenges?
    • What do you like best about your creation?

Meet Glowforge

The magical 3D laser printer that made this lesson possible. Learn more!

Glowforge Editors Choice