OnShape Accounts Setup

Overview

Students will create or confirm their OnShape accounts and practice basic setup steps that prepare them to draw and measure geometric shapes in later lessons. The work connects technology procedures to clear informative writing so students can document their setup in an organized way.

Learning intentions

Students will be able to:

• Set up (or confirm) an OnShape account using a school-appropriate login process.
• Configure workspace basics (profile/name, language/units if available, and basic viewing settings).
• Explain the steps they followed in an informative paragraph with a clear topic introduction and logical organization.
• Identify and describe one example of a triangle they could construct later in OnShape using angle/side conditions.

Success criteria

I can:

• Log in to OnShape and verify I can open the workspace without errors.
• Use OnShape settings responsibly (units/display choices) and describe what I changed.
• Write an informative explanation that includes: a clear introduction, ordered steps, and an ending that summarizes the result.
• Match a given triangle condition (three angles, three sides, or two sides plus an angle) to the correct “one triangle / more than one triangle / no triangle” expectation and justify briefly.

Curriculum links

• Geometry — drawing and constructing triangles from given angle/side conditions.
• Geometry — scale drawings and reproducing figures at a different scale (preview for later in the unit).
• Writing — introduce a topic, preview what follows, organize ideas using strategies, and include formatting/graphics when useful.
• Writing — use technology to produce and publish writing and link/cite sources when applicable.

Lesson structure (45 minutes)

1. 0–5 min · Hook (Quick Demo). Teacher shows a 1-minute screen-recording of an OnShape login and opens a blank workspace; students discuss what they think they must do first to “start successfully.” Students: turn-and-talk, then share one “must-do” before drawing.

2. 5–12 min · Direct Teach (Account Setup Steps). Teacher models the exact sequence for account creation/confirmation (without sharing passwords publicly), then demonstrates checking settings like units and basic display preferences. Students: follow along on their devices with teacher guidance, using the “Do / Check / Fix” mindset.

3. 12–20 min · Guided Practice (Login & Workspace Verification). Teacher circles and verifies: students can log in, open a workspace, and confirm settings (e.g., units or measurement preferences). Students: complete a short “setup checklist” on paper or a form: login success, workspace opens, and settings confirmed.

4. 20–30 min · Micro-Task (Triangle Condition Snapshot). Teacher gives three quick scenarios (on board) using only angle/side language students recognize from earlier geometry units, such as:

• “Given three angles…”
• “Given three sides…”
• “Given two sides and the included angle…” Teacher asks students to predict whether the condition determines a unique triangle, multiple triangles, or none. Students: individually choose the outcome and write a 1-sentence reason.

5. 30–42 min · Writing Time (Informative Setup Paragraph). Teacher provides a simple structure students can copy:

• Introduction sentence that names the topic and previews steps.
• 3–5 ordered steps (first, next, then, finally).
• Ending sentence that summarizes what they achieved. Teacher reminds students that writing should be organized for comprehension and can include a small graphic (like a labeled diagram of “Step 1/Step 2/Step 3”). Students: draft an informative paragraph on paper or in a shared document titled “My OnShape Setup.”

6. 42–45 min · Exit Check (Ticket). Teacher collects or reviews quickly for: logged-in verification and paragraph structure markers (intro + ordered steps + summary). Students: submit the triangle snapshot and hand in the setup paragraph.

Resources

• Student devices with OnShape access approved by district/school policy
• Teacher demo device/projector or screen-sharing setup
• Printed “OnShape Setup Checklist” (login success, workspace opens, settings confirmed)
• Three scenario cards or slide with triangle condition prompts
• Paragraph planning template (intro / steps / summary)
• Optional: shared document link provided by teacher (no student-created public links)
• Paper pencils for quick notes and draft

Assessment

• During guided practice: teacher observes login success and settings verification using the checklist.
• During the triangle snapshot: teacher checks whether students correctly predict unique/more than one/no triangle with brief justification.
• Exit ticket: review paragraph organization (clear introduction, ordered steps, concluding summary) and confirm setup completion.

Differentiation

• Support: provide sentence starters for the informative paragraph (e.g., “In this setup, I will…” “First, I…” “Finally, I…”).
• Support: allow a partner “buddy” role for step-following (one reads the checklist, one enters actions), rotating roles.
• Extension: students add one extra sentence to justify their triangle prediction using vocabulary like “determined,” “not enough information,” or “possible variations.”
• EAL/SEN: offer a simplified checklist with icons (login key, workspace window, units display) and allow drawing a quick labeled flow diagram instead of extra writing.