In this STEAM maker project, students design and make a custom bookmark using LaserMaker and a laser cutting machine. The lesson connects everyday reading habits with digital design, image engraving, text layout, rounded corners, layer setup, and laser processing.

1. Lesson Overview

1.1 Project Goal

Students will design a bookmark by drawing a long rectangle, adding a small top slot, rounding the corners, importing an image, adding text, setting engraving and cutting layers, uploading the file, and producing a finished laser-cut bookmark.

1.2 Recommended Classroom Use

2. Learning Objectives

2.1 What Students Will Learn

2.2 STEAM Skills Developed

2.3 Responsible Making

Students should operate the laser cutter only under teacher or lab supervisor guidance. Before processing, check the material, focus, layer settings, cutting order, and whether the imported image and text are positioned safely inside the bookmark outline.

3. Project Context: Why Design a Bookmark?

A bookmark is a simple object with a clear purpose: it helps readers mark pages without folding or damaging the book. This makes it a practical classroom design challenge because students can quickly understand the user need and then improve the object with decoration, text, and personal meaning.

The source lesson also introduces bookmarks as objects with a long history. Teachers can use this as a bridge between reading culture, design, and modern digital fabrication. Students can compare traditional bookmarks with laser-cut versions and discuss how materials, shape, and decoration affect the final experience.

4. Materials and Design Planning

5. Lesson Procedure

5.1 Draw the Bookmark Outline

Open LaserMaker and select the Rectangle tool from the left Drawing Toolbar. Draw a large rectangle with a width of 35 mm and a length of 135 mm. This becomes the main bookmark body.

Using the same method, draw a smaller rectangle with a width of 7 mm and a height of 2.5 mm. Place this small rectangle directly above the main bookmark body as the top slot or decorative cut feature.

5.2 Round the Corners

Select the main bookmark rectangle. Click the Rounded Corner tool and set the radius to 5 mm. Apply the radius to the four corners of the bookmark body.

Then select the smaller rectangle, set the radius to 1 mm, and round its four corners as well. Rounded corners make the bookmark look more polished and can reduce sharp edges.

5.3 Import and Place the Image

Click File in the upper Function Area, then choose Open and import the image that will be engraved on the bookmark. This can be a classroom-approved illustration, pattern, symbol, or artwork.

Select the image and resize it by dragging the corner points. Place the image inside the bookmark body. Keep enough space around the image so it does not overlap the cutting outline or text area.

5.4 Add Text to the Bookmark

Click the Font tool from the left Drawing Toolbar and enter the text for the bookmark. The source example uses a vertically arranged quote. To create vertical text, press Enter after each character or line so the words stack neatly.

Students can use a short quote, poem line, reading motto, book title, name, or class theme. The source workflow uses a decorative font style and a small font size so the text fits inside the bookmark.

6. Laser Processing Setup

6.1 Assign the Text Layer

Select the text graphic and click the yellow layer in the lower-left Layer Palette. In the source workflow, the yellow layer is used for outlining the text.

6.2 Set Material and Processing Techniques

Set the black cutting layer to basswood, 3 mm, and cutting. For the bitmap image layer, set the material and thickness to basswood and 3 mm, then choose shallow engraving. For the yellow text layer, set the material and thickness to basswood and 3 mm, then choose outlining.

Drag the black cutting layer to the bottom of the processing stack. Since the machine processes layers from top to bottom, cutting last helps keep the bookmark stable while the image and text are processed.

6.3 Upload the File

Click Start in the lower-right Processing Panel to upload the completed bookmark file to the laser cutting machine. Before starting the job, check the material placement, focus, and layer order one more time.

7. Finished Bookmark and Review

After laser processing is complete, remove the bookmark from the machine bed and check the result. The image should be clear, the text should be readable, the rounded corners should be smooth, and the outer shape should be fully cut.

8. Test, Debug, and Improve

9. Classroom Practice and Teaching Tips

9.1 Student Workflow

9.2 Teacher Suggestions

10. Reflection and Evaluation

10.1 Reflection Questions

10.2 Student and Peer Evaluation

Students can evaluate their own work and give peer feedback based on creativity, technical process, finished appearance, and classroom collaboration.

11. Extension Challenge

After finishing the basic bookmark, students can design a bookmark series for a classroom reading program, book club, library activity, or student gift project. Each bookmark can use a different image, quote, shape, or theme while keeping the same production workflow.

For a design challenge, students can compare different bookmark widths, corner radii, image sizes, text layouts, and engraving settings to see which version is the most readable, attractive, and practical.

12. Equipment Note for Teachers

This project is suitable for classroom laser cutters that support cutting, shallow engraving, and outlining of thin basswood board. For schools and beginner STEAM labs, projects like custom bookmarks, reading accessories, classroom gifts, and beginner LaserMaker activities can be completed with a classroom laser cutter such as the Thunder Laser Bolt Series.

Teachers can choose the machine and material setup based on classroom space, student supervision needs, material thickness, project size, and ventilation setup. Students should always test settings, check focus, and follow the school’s laser safety rules before final cutting.