April 16, 2014
MakerBot Academy has released a content pack that gives students a glimpse of an ancient civilization by allowing them to recreate a unique 3D model of the Great Pyramid of Giza, which stood as the world's tallest structure for 3,800 years.
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now El Giza in Egypt. It is also one of the most studied monuments and the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World as well as the only one to remain largely intact.
According to Makerbot, the content pack includes a two-part print of the pyramid and a lesson plan that explores the engineering, design, and construction process behind this legendary structure.
The 3D model of the Great Pyramid of Giza prints in two parts that slide together. When apart, they show the three chambers of the pyramid: the queen's and king's chambers and the lower chamber.
"Three walls of our 3D printable model represent the pyramid's modern appearance. But the fourth wall presents the ancient wonder as it would've looked in 2560 BC, gleaming with polished limestone that was later stripped to build other pyramids," MakerBot's Ben Millstein explained.
Many schools throughout the United States incorporate the study of the Great Pyramid of Giza during social studies classes in grades six through eight.
"When students have the ability to hold a model or, in this case, a piece of history in the form of the Great Pyramid of Giza in their hands, it allows them to see the object differently." noted Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot. Pettis, a former schoolteacher himself, realizes the importance of historically accurate 3D models and how they can stimulate the learning process in the classroom. "This particular model slides apart to show the interior of the pyramid and the chambers inside. Students can get up close and personal to the Great Pyramid of Giza without traveling to Egypt to see it in person. To me, this is a transformative method of teaching; using a MakerBot Replicator 3D Printer in the classroom is almost like having access to a time machine."
"Students will learn how erosion and human interference created the worn, jagged look the pyramid is left with today. [They can also] open the model to reveal a detailed diagram of the multi-chambered tomb and guide students through the most complex internal structure ever discovered in a pyramid." Millstein explained.
The Great Pyramid of Giza content pack is free to download and 3D print from Thingiverse here.
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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