Sherfield School is a leading school in Hampshire which places innovation at the heart of students’ development. Using Mayku FormBox, Sherfield School was able to introduce children as young as 5 to product design and engineering, allowing students to create holograms under the supervision of teachers and assistants.
CHALLENGE
Sherfield School wanted to give students aged 5 to 8 a practical and engaging introduction to the principles of thermoforming and product design. This part of the curriculum is usually reserved for students between the ages of 12 and 18. The challenge was to show how Mayku FormBox can be used successfully with younger students.
“Mayku FormBox is a great tool for engaging students in product design from an early age.” – Heather Seabourne, Sherfield School
THE SOLUTION
Using thermoforming, Sherfield School created this special workshop to teach younger pupils about geometry and design, forming a hologram viewer from the FormBox starter kit. These kits are included in every FormBox. While the machine warmed up, the teacher gave a basic introduction to thermoforming. They also explained to the students various principles of geometry and science and how holograms are generated.
FormBox can be used by children over 8 years of age. However, with the help of an adult, the children involved in these workshops gained particular practical experience. They were shown how to place the correct material in the trays, how to set up a machine to start a production process, and how to help the teacher move the trays. Once all the students had had this experience, the teacher took turns explaining how to cut out the resulting shapes. He then showed them how to preview the products using their smartphone.
Once each student had experienced the FormBox, they were all given a booklet of activities to complete at home about what they had learned during the workshop. This included a link to Mayku’s YouTube channel, where kids could explore other informative videos about thermoforming. These include tutorials on how to use FormBox with a 3D printer to expand the range of things kids can create.
FormBox is designed for independent classroom learning. The interface means students can use FormBox independently.
Conclusion
Sherfield School effectively navigated the curricular challenge of introducing complex product design and engineering principles to exceptionally young students, ranging from ages 5 to 8, a curriculum area traditionally restricted to teenagers. By integrating the user-friendly Mayku FormBox into their educational framework, the school placed innovation at the heart of student development. The tool’s operational simplicity and contained process allowed teachers and assistants to safely supervise the children in practical, engaging activities, such as creating holograms. This project not only validated the FormBox as an ideal resource for democratizing manufacturing concepts but also proved that fundamental principles of thermoforming and product design can be successfully absorbed by primary school children. Ultimately, this pioneering use of desktop manufacturing technology creates an early, strong foundation in engineering and creativity for students, enhancing their overall practical and conceptual development.
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