Giving in 3D: Make Picture Books Accessible with 3Doodler and Build a Better Book

Imagine Where the Wild Things Are without the iconic images of Max and the malicious beasts.

Could you experience the humor and horror of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! without seeing the grumpy grinch himself?

With 3Doodler pens, it is possible to bring these remarkable illustrations to those who have never seen them before. By feeling 3D outlines, people with visual impairments across the world can experience these classic characters in a new way.

We have teamed up with Build a Better Book to make this dream a reality. We’re asking classrooms, artists and individuals across the globe to join us in making cherished illustrations accessible.

This year, International 3D Printing Day and Giving Tuesday both fall on December 3rd, and we thought this would be the perfect time to share your Doodles with those who have never been able to experience them before. We are calling this day 3D Giving Day, a first-of-its kind humanitarian day centered around giving 3D creations.

3D pen art: Book with green leaf atop

3D Giving Day with 3Doodler

For classrooms, this is a low prep activity that will bring meaning and engagement to your students as they gear up for the holidays. For artists and individuals, it can be as simple or as intricate as you’d like!

Materials Needed

  • Students doodling Dr Seuss with 3D pen
  • Students doodling Dr Seuss with 3D pen
  • Students doodling Dr Seuss with 3D pen

How to Participate
  • Fill out this form to register for the event.

  • If you’re a classroom, pick one or more books for your students to use for the project. If you’re an artist or individual, pick the book of your choice. We’ve included a list of suggested books below.

  • Have participants use DoodlePads or clear laminated sheets on top of the selected picture book pages they wish to trace. Tip: Use masking tape to hold the DoodlePad or clear laminated sheet in place so it doesn’t move while the image is being traced.

  • Next, use the 3Doodler pens and filaments to trace the images on top of the DoodlePad or laminated sheet.

  • Once the Doodles are finished, carefully bend the DoodlePad or laminated sheet to pop the Doodles off.

  • Take pictures of the completed Doodles and share them on social media. @3Doodler #3Doodler #BuildaBetterBook #3DGivingDay

  • Email us at [email protected] and we will help you find the best local charity to take your Doodles to.

*Be sure to check our compatibility chart to ensure you get the right filaments and accessories for your 3Doodler pens. We welcome mixed media approaches to the project, so please feel free to use traditional 3D printers, cardboard, clay, etc.

Some Suggested Picture Books For 3D Giving Day (Linked Below)

How The Grinch Stole Christmas!
Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus
Where The Wild Things Are
The Giving Tree
How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah?
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Snowy Day
The Cat in the Hat
Make Way For Ducklings
The Polar Express
Llama Llama Red Pajama
Elephant and Piggie

We are so excited about 3D Giving Day, and we can’t wait to see your gifts to the community.

Please share your 3D Giving Day creations on social media, give Tricia and Mindy a follow, and stay tuned to our emails for more to come!

@3Doodler #3Doodler #BuildaBetterBook #3DGivingDay


The Build a Better Book project works with school and library Makerspaces to engage youth in the design and fabrication of inclusive media, including picture books, games and graphics. They use both low- and high-tech Makerspace tools, such as 3D printers, laser cutters, MakeyMakey, conductive boards and craft materials, youth design, fabricate, test and refine multi-modal books, games and STEM graphics that incorporate tactile and audio features. These products are designed by and for learners with visual impairments as well as other physical and learning disabilities. Through the project, middle and high school youth develop technology skills and learn about STEM careers as they design and create multi-modal picture books, graphics and games that can be seen, touched and heard! Learn more about Build a Better Book here.

Images Courtesy of Tricia Fuglestad

Posted in EDU

Brew-tiful Create+ Projects for International Coffee Day

Smell the aroma of creativity in the air.

We love a good cup o’ joe at 3Doodler, and in celebration of International Coffee Day, we have put some great projects together for you.

International Coffee Day, which falls on October 1st of this year, is a day for bringing coffee lovers together around the world in celebration of their love of java. We also honor and support the millions of farmers whose livelihoods depend on this miraculous bean. Be sure to visit the International Coffee Day website to learn more about how to support coffee farmers around the world, and take the #CoffeePledge.

Who needs cream when we have creativity?

Coffee and creativity are indeed the perfect blend, so we’ve put together a list of Create+ projects to give you that extra shot!

Two cups of coffee displayed in 3D pen art.

Sleeves for Your On-The-Go Sips

It’s as easy as instant coffee to make these coffee cup sleeves! Simply draw the design you want onto a paper to-go cup and Doodle away with FLEXY, ABS, WOOD or PLA. Once finished, shimmy your sleeve off for re-use, and drink your coffee in DIY style.

3D pen art: White coffee cup with red apple

Mug Decor for Your Coffee-Loving Teacher

But first, coffee. We all know that special teacher who is very enthusiastic about their morning boost. Use our special stencil to make them a memorable addition to their morning brew. They’ll think you’re as sweet as extra cream and sugar!

Small blue flower on green leaf, 3D pen art

Boho Coasters for Your Bean Brew

Need some coasters for your coffee table? Use our bohemian coaster stencil to add some practical flare to your home decor. These coasters will definitely be talking pieces for your guests!

Share your creative coffee accoutrements with us on social media!

We will appreciate it… a latte.

@3Doodler #3Doodler

Teacher Spotlight: Naomi Harm

"We want to empower students with real life skills so they too can influence positive change, while addressing and solving problems and challenges in our world."-Naomi Harm ShareWelcome to our first teacher spotlight of the fall 2019 school year!

|Naomi Harm using the 3Doodler Create 3D Pen in her STEM classroom

We’re honored to share a very inspirational story with you about Naomi Harm, a leader in STEM education. Over the summer, Naomi hosted a series of events titled “Summer Tech Splash” where teachers and students worked collaboratively to build prototypes of a self-driving car. Her event was even featured on Milwaukee’s NPR!

We had a chance to catch up with Naomi, learn about her goals as a leader in STEM education, and hear all about the successes of her events over the summer. She was also generous enough to share her lesson plan with the 3Doodler EDU community.

Naomi, thank you for taking the time to meet with us. Can you please tell us about yourself, the STEM Learning institution you founded, and your goals as a leader in STEM education?

My name is Naomi Harm I am an edtech woman, an instigator of STEM innovation, and a thought leader and influencer. I truly welcome each and every opportunity to share my expertise on project based learning (PBL), student-centered learning, brain-based instructional approaches, and STEM and NGSS activities.

I am also the CEO and founder of Innovative Educator Consulting, a professional STEM learning company that supports women in leadership. We provide innovative education for teachers and administrators that aligns to the ISTE standards.

Our goal is to give teachers everything they need to provide students with experiences that will enhance the pursuit of their future STEM careers. We want to empower students with real life skills so they too can influence positive change, while addressing and solving problems and challenges in our world.


We are so inspired by your Summer Tech Splash events in Wisconsin. Can you please share a brief overview of the events, the experiences of the attendees, and any notable learning breakthroughs you witnessed?

Every summer we offer a multitude of STEM learning events based on the needs and requests of K-12 educators and students. This year, we focused on maximizing creativity, collaboration and communication through STEM design thinking activities. Many mediums were explored, including 3D Printing, coding, robotics, LED circuitry, and Google suite programs to enhance collaboration. Students and teachers created ebooks to share their learning experiences.

  • Naomi Harm using the 3Doodler Create 3D Pen in her STEM classroom
  • Naomi Harm using the 3Doodler Create 3D Pen in her STEM classroom
  • Naomi Harm using the 3Doodler Create 3D Pen in her STEM classroom
  • Naomi Harm using the 3Doodler Create 3D Pen in her STEM classroom
  • Naomi Harm using the 3Doodler Create 3D Pen in her STEM classroom

The one workshop that left a lasting impact on each and every attendee was the experience of creating a self-driving car prototype with 3Doodler Start and Create pens. Attendees worked in groups through an assembly line scenario, and each participant had a specific task that contributed to the self-driving car prototype. Everyone was actively involved and played a part in the success of the final product. Car stencils were provided as an option to assist with building the car structure, and to inspire design ideas. Some attendees decided to sketch out their own original designs to build their car from to make it truly unique.

What benefits have you noticed with using 3Doodler pens in the educational events and workshops that you host?

3Doodler pens definitely create more engaged learners, and with the pens there is a lot of room to personalize the learning. Every final product is different and unique. At risk students, special needs and English-language learner (ELL) students become instant leaders and peer coaches through the collaborative activities with 3Doodler pens.

Many attendees commented on how calming and soothing the designing and creating processes were with the 3D pens. The tactile tools helped them stay focused, and they had more creative conversations with their teammates. They all felt like they were part of a dynamic team, as they all had a special task to contribute to the final prototype of the car.

Both the educators and students liked that the project didn’t involve screen time or computers. I found this statement so enlightening!

"3Doodler pens definitely create more engaged learners, and with the pens there is a lot of room to personalize the learning."-Naomi Harm Share

Engineering Design Challenge Lesson Plan

You can follow along with Naomi’s lesson plan right here.

Be sure to share pictures of your classroom prototypes on social media!

@3Doodler #3Doodler #3DoodlerEDU

To stoke the fires of inspiration in your classroom, be sure to follow Naomi Harm on Twitter!

Posted in EDU

Welcome to our new website!

We’re extremely excited to share our new website with you. With a new layout and a completely revamped store, we’re proud to give you the best possible experience.

At 3Doodler, our purpose is to inspire and enable everyone to create. Whether you’re a proud owner of your very first 3Doodler, or you’re a teacher looking for inspiration for your next class, the new the3Doodler.com is your one stop for all things 3Doodler! For returning users, everything you love can still be found on our website, now organized under 5 content hubs.

What does this mean for you?
  • Existing EDU users may need to activate their new accounts (see below)

  • A faster 3Doodler web experience

  • Easier to find what you need

  • Happiness!

Children creating 3D pen art at a Windsor day class

Schools

We’ve worked alongside teachers to build our Education hub to help make finding what you need easier than ever. Take advantage of education discounts (site-wide) by registering for an EDU account today.

For existing EDU customers that had accounts on our old site, you should’ve received an email inviting you to create a new one. But don’t worry, we migrated all your information, you simply need to create a new password.

If you didn’t receive this email please contact us. You’re already approved so please don’t re-register.

Purple and yellow plastic dinosaurs on wooden surface - 3D pen art.

Resources

Our Resources hub is jam packed with free lesson plans, tutorials and stencils to keep you busy for days on end. And in case you’re wondering, we also have an app for that.

Colorful plastic straws arranged on a white surface - 3D pen art

Store

You can browse our entire collection of pens, accessories, plastics and project kits with ease. If you’re having trouble deciding which pen is right for you, then visit our store page to learn about the benefits of each! If you’re a teacher, don’t forget to register or login for education discounts!

Shop for Start (Ages 6-13), Create (14+), or EDU for schools now!

3D pen art: Black and white flowers on a table

Get Started

Have you just bought your new 3Doodler or received one in class? The Get Started hub will help you get up to speed quickly so you can unleash your creativity. Run through some quick basics for your Create+ or Start pen, or browse through our amazing Hot Tips section to see the nifty ways our in-house pros use our pen! If you prefer learning through videos, go ahead and explore our extensive video library or watch and learn from Grace Du Prez’s “Learn 3D Pen Art” video series.

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Stay In Touch

We’d love to hear what you think! If you have suggestions for improvement, or if you’re having trouble locating something, shoot us an email at [email protected]!

Break the Back to School Ice: Design Challenge + Social-Emotional Learning

As an educator, you may be asking yourself, how can I kick off the school year in the best way possible?

Well, we’ve got something special for you that will bring some social-emotional learning (SEL) and design thinking to your students in a fun and engaging way.

Children creating 3D pen art at a classroom table with Doodler Edu Start Windsor.

Icebreakers and design challenges are fantastic activities to cultivate meaningful experiences at school, both socially and academically. Why not get the best of both worlds with our back to school icebreaker design challenge?

Icebreaker Design Challenge

Materials Needed

  1. 3Doodler Pens (1 pen per pair of students)
  2. 3Doodler Filaments (5 strands per student)
  3. Optional: Scrap paper or cardboard and scissors to use with the filament to make the project mixed media
Icebreaker Design Challenge
  • Instruct students to close their eyes and spend one minute reflecting on what they love about school. After the minute is up, with students’ eyes still closed, ask students to reflect on a time where a specific tool at school helped them accomplish an important goal.

  • Share the goal: Students will create a model of the tool that came to mind with 3Doodler pens.

  • Split students into groups and pass out 3Doodler pens and filaments (and paper/cardboard if you choose to use that as an additional material). Have students take turns creating their prototypes with the pens.

  • Circle Share: To encourage listening, have the groups position their chairs in a circle so that all students can easily make eye contact with one another. Have each student share their model and why they chose that specific tool. To facilitate empathy, encourage deeper conversation around what each student shares by asking the group, “Why did they choose that tool to prototype?” or “What point of view are they coming from?”

  • Extension: Have students brainstorm on how the tool that benefited them could be improved. Instruct students to modify their model to include the improvement, then repeat step 5 for circle sharing.

This activity aligns with the following ISTE Standards:

  • ISTE 4C: Students develop, test and refine prototypes as part of a cyclical design process.
  • ISTE 5C: Students break problems into component parts, extract key information, and develop descriptive models to understand complex systems or facilitate problem-solving.
Child creating 3D art with Windsor 3D pen

Building strong relationships with and among your new students is foundational to creating a safe and enjoyable learning environment. In this space, students feel more trusting of their teachers and peers, and more comfortable and confident asking questions and taking risks. Check out this amazing Cult of Pedagogy article to learn more about building strong relationships with your students.

Do you love this activity? Please share your classroom prototypes with us on social media!
@3Doodler #3Doodler #3DoodlerEDU

Posted in EDU
Close-up: 3D pen art cake with sticks design

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