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High school · Grade 12

Level 12: Laser cutting and advanced fabrication

The series ends with laser cutting. Students use advanced CAD, engineering and maths to make professional-grade prototypes.

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Workbook cover, Level 12Laser Cutting Kit

Level 12 at a glance

Grade
Grade 12 · High school
Technology
Laser cutting and advanced fabrication
Tools
Advanced Onshape CAD and laser cutting
Kit
Laser Cutting Kit, one per group of four
Projects
15 projects and a Capstone
Weekly time
One 45 or 90 minute session
Pre and post challenge
Design an Adaptive Grip Tool
Careers named
Assistive Technology Specialist, Recruitment Officer, Economist
Level 12 book demo
Book demo

See Level 12 in action

A short walk through the Level 12 workbook and the Laser Cutting Kit, from the SKOOL21 channel.

More videos on the SKOOL21 channel →
What students build

Projects from the Laser Cutting Kit

Built with the Laser Cutting Kit
Built with the Laser Cutting Kit
Affordable Housing Model, Project 1
Affordable Housing Model, Project 1
Affordable Housing Model, Project 1
Affordable Housing Model, Project 1
By the end of this level

Students can

  • Model complex 2D layouts in advanced Onshape CAD
  • Cut interlocking assemblies on a Creality Falcon A1 10W laser engraver
  • Complete the full digital to physical manufacturing cycle

Summarised from the SKOOL21 Level Exit Outcomes.

Design process

How they work

  1. Define
  2. Design
  3. Share
  4. Reflect
Sample projects
Three sample projects from Level 12

Fifteen projects and a Capstone. Ask for the level sheet for the full project list.

Full exit outcomes and Sustainable Development Goals for Level 12

Engineering & Design

  • Design and laser-cut an assistive or sustainability-linked object as the programme's terminal self-selected Capstone (the "Design an Adaptive Grip Tool" pre/post challenge).
  • Apply advanced Onshape CAD skills across a full digital-to-physical manufacturing cycle: design, laser-cut, assemble, and test.
  • Work within a fabrication-specific 4-role team structure (Lead Modeler, Fabrication Specialist, Recorder and Reporter, Testing Supervisor).
  • Demonstrate creative, original design choices for an assistive-technology purpose.

Science

  • Apply high-school engineering design standards (NGSS HS-ETS1) to a digitally fabricated assistive solution.
  • Explore a human-impact/Earth-systems theme, such as sustainable material choice (NGSS ESS3).
  • Investigate ecosystems, heredity, or evolution content connected to a project (NGSS LS2/LS3/LS4).
  • Apply a high-school physical science concept such as Newton's Second Law to a mechanical grip or tool design (NGSS HS-PS2).
  • Investigate IGCSE-level Biology or Physics content, and respond to Assessment-Objective style tasks distinguishing recalled knowledge from applied use (Cambridge IGCSE AO1/AO2).

Mathematics

  • Apply IGCSE Core/Extended Mensuration and Trigonometry to size and angle a laser-cut part accurately (Cambridge IGCSE Mensuration, Trigonometry).
  • Use Transformations concepts to plan a 2D cutting layout that becomes a 3D assistive object (Cambridge IGCSE Transformations).
  • Apply Algebra, Number, Statistics, or Probability concepts as needed across design and testing — this level spans 7 of the 9 Cambridge IGCSE topic areas.
  • Draw on Geometry & Measurement, this level's dominant Common Core high-school math domain, alongside Algebra, Functions, and Statistics & Probability.

Computing & Coding

  • Model an assistive or sustainability-linked part in advanced Onshape CAD, then prepare the cutting file for a Creality Falcon-class laser cutter.
  • Execute a complete digital-to-physical manufacturing workflow — from CAD model to laser-cut, assembled, and tested physical object — as the programme's terminal computing skill.
Social skills

Give and receive structured peer feedback through multi-round “Share and Improve” critique, working without a fixed team-role structure.

STEM career literacy

Recognize real product-design, accessibility, and business-facing careers at the programme’s capstone, such as Assistive Technology Specialist or Economist.

Sustainability literacy

Identify the Sustainable Development Goal connected to their build, themed around Industry & Climate Monitoring (IoT).

From the SKOOL21 Level Exit Outcomes. Standards named are NGSS, Common Core and Cambridge strands.

Sustainable Development Goals at this level
  1. 1 No Poverty
  2. 2 Zero Hunger
  3. 3 Good Health and Well-being
  4. 4 Quality Education
  5. 5 Gender Equality
  6. 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
  7. 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
  8. 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
  9. 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  10. 10 Reduced Inequalities
  11. 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
  12. 15 Life on Land
  13. 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
  14. 17 Partnerships for the Goals

Source: SKOOL21 Five Pillars Framework. Compare all levels

Sample lesson

Project 1: Affordable Housing

The first project of the level, as it appears in the guidebook. The full workbook is in the reader below where published.

A suburb has been tasked with adding 1,000 more affordable housing units for refugees. They have asked your design firm to design an affordable housing model that will fit together with joinery so that it can be approved by the board before construction commences.
The problem, as printed in the workbook.
Goal named
SDG 1 · No Poverty
Careers named
Architect, Urban Planner
Standards cited
NGSS HS-ETS1-3; Cambridge Physics 1.1-1; Common Core HSF.BF.B.3; Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics C7.1.3
Affordable Housing, sample lesson page 1
1. Objectives and standards
Affordable Housing, sample lesson page 2
2. The project begins
Affordable Housing, sample lesson page 3
3. Planning the build
Affordable Housing, sample lesson page 4
4. Building
Curriculum alignment

Standards cited in Level 12, project by project

One row per project, quoted as the guidebook cites them. An empty cell means no citation for that project.

NGSS sub-domains
  • PS2
  • PS3
  • LS2
  • LS3
  • LS4
  • ESS2
  • ESS3
  • ETS1
Distinct NGSS sub-domains touched (of 12): 8Projects with ≥ 1 NGSS code (of 16, incl. capstone): 15 / 16
Cambridge Science sub-strands
  • Biology (IGCSE 0610 / A-Level topics)
  • Physics (IGCSE 0625 / A-Level topics)
  • Assessment Objectives (A-Level)
Distinct IGCSE/A-Level subject areas touched (of 4) — Part 2 breadth: 2Projects with ≥ 1 Cambridge Science code (of 16, incl. capstone): 15 / 16
Cambridge Maths sub-strands
  • Number (IGCSE 0580 topic 1)
  • Algebra and Graphs (IGCSE 0580 topic 2)
  • Mensuration (IGCSE 0580 topic 5)
  • Trigonometry (IGCSE 0580 topic 6)
  • Transformations and Vectors (IGCSE 0580 topic 7)
  • Probability (IGCSE 0580 topic 8)
  • Statistics (IGCSE 0580 topic 9)
Distinct IGCSE topic areas touched (of 9) — Part 2 breadth: 7Projects with ≥ 1 Cambridge Math code (of 16, incl. capstone): 15 / 16
ProjectNGSSCambridge ScienceCambridge MathsCommon Core MathsCareers named
1 Affordable Housing ModelHS-ETS1-31.1-1C7.1.3HSF.BF.B.3Architect, Urban Planner
2 Planter BoxesHS-ESS3-413.2-4C5.3.2HSG.GMD.B.4Agricultural Engineer, Urban Planner
3 Standing Desk ConverterHS-ETS1-21.5.1-1E2.12-4HSG.MG.A.3Product Designer, Health Coach
4 Car ModelHS-PS2-11.5.1-6E2.9-3HSF.IF.B.6Mechanical Engineer, Automechanic
5 Inclusive STEM FigurineHS-ETS1-1AO1E9.3-1HSS.IC.B.5Advertising Specialist, Recruitment Officer
6 Rainwater CollectorHS-ESS2-518.3-3E2.13-1HSF.BF.A.1Environmental Engineer, Product Designer
7 Wind Turbine AirfoilsHS-PS3-31.7.3-1E5.3-2HSG.MG.A.1Environmental Engineer, Aeronautical Engineer
8 Bike RacksHS-ESS3-41.5.2-4E9.3-1HSS.ID.A.2Civil Engineer, Urban Planner
9 Braille SignHS-LS3-3AO2C8.3HSS.CP.A.5Assistive Technology Specialist, Accessibility Product Designer
10 Reusable Shipping ContainersHS-ETS1-21.1-1C6.2-1HSG.MG.A.3Manufacturing Engineer, Systems Engineer
11 Aquatic Cleanup HookHS-ESS3-420.4-4E5.3-2HSG.C.B.5Marine Biologist, Environmental Engineer
12 Bee Nesting HouseHS-LS4-520.4-7E1.17HSF.LE.A.4Ecologist, Beekeeper
13 BookendsHS-PS2-11.5.2-4E7.4-4HSN.VM.A.3Product Designer, CAD Specialist
14 Mini LoomHS-ETS1-21.1-1C2.5-3HSA.REI.C.6Economist, Artisan
15 Livestock FeederHS-LS2-121.3-4E2.12HSF.BF.A.1Agricultural Engineer, Farmer
Capstone Extend Your Reach—————

Source: SKOOL21 Level A to 12 curriculum crosswalk (2026), compiled from the teacher guides and student books. Where the two differ, the student book prevails.

Inside the level

What you order

ItemTitleISBN or SKU
Student workbookSTEM Innovator’s Workbook, Level 12978-981-17736-1-7
Teacher guidebookGuidebook, Level 12978-981-17737-6-1
Learning kitLaser Cutting KitSTEMSIHKitG12B

An air purifier for the laser cutting kit is ordered separately (STEMSIHKitG12Air).

Assessment built in

Four checkpoints a year use a seven-criterion rubric, and every other project gets a 30 second workbook check.

How assessment works →

Standards mapped

The guidebook maps each project to NGSS, Cambridge and Common Core standards where they apply.

See the table for this level →