Maths art and making · Maths CAS idea
3D-printed models for the maths department
CreativityServiceProject-ready
Design and print physical models (solids of revolution, surfaces, polyhedra) that teachers can use in lessons.
Where the maths comes in
Parametric surfaces, volumes of revolution and nets, built in CAD or code.
Which CAS strand it fits
- Creativity: The arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking.
- Service: Unpaid, voluntary work with others that also has a learning benefit for you.
Your CAS coordinator decides how an experience counts at your school. Strand summaries are provisional (our words, being checked).
How to run it
- Ask teachers which models would help their lessons.
- Design in CAD or code and test-print small versions.
- Print final versions and write a short guide for each.
- Ask teachers how they used them.
This can grow into a CAS project if your CAS coordinator agrees: see planning a maths CAS project.
How to evidence it
- Design files and test prints
- Guides you wrote
- Teacher feedback
Date everything and keep it in your school's CAS portfolio as you go. More on what counts as evidence.
Reflection prompts
Questions to think about, not answers to copy. Write your reflections in your own words, in whatever form your school accepts.
- What did failed prints teach you?
- How did teachers' needs change your designs?
- What would you make next, and why?
Learning outcomes this often gives a chance to show
- Challenge and new skills. What could you not do at the start that you can do now? Which moment felt most uncomfortable, and what did you do next?
- Initiative and planning. What did you plan, and what did you have to change once you started? Who did you need to ask for permission or help, and how did you go about it?
- Strengths and growth. Which part of this did you find easiest, and why do you think that is? What would someone who watched you say you need to work on?
Whether you meet an outcome depends on what you actually do and reflect on, not on the idea. Outcome labels are our short summaries, being checked.
Safety and ethics
- Use the printer only under supervision; hot nozzles and fumes need care.
Agree every plan with your CAS coordinator first. Safety and ethics for maths CAS.
Sketch curves and patterns first in the free online grapher.