Trip to the Zoo

Learning about animals and their habitats with a visit to the zoo is a fantastic way to understand the world around us.

Conservation & Research

Zoos provide access to over 8,700 species, providing a unique opportunity to learn about different animals and their habitats. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums states there are over 235 facilities across the United States and overseas to explore that draw over 200 million visitors annually.

Many zoos contribute to conservation by increasing wild populations through reintroduction and supporting breeding programs to save endangered species. In addition, zoos provide educational programs to encourage citizen scientists and participate in climate change and wildlife research.

Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium - Omaha, Nebraska Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium - Omaha, Nebraska

Plan a Visit

There is no shortage of places to explore, given that zoos now offer virtual programs to visitors of all ages. Plan a visit of your own to one of the largest zoos in the U.S., such as the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, featuring over 960 species on 130 acres. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this zoo is home to the largest cat complex in North America, one of the world’s largest rainforests, and one of the world’s largest indoor domes.

The Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, Bronx Zoo, San Diego Zoo, and Smithsonian’s National Zoo are also considered to be among the largest and best zoos in the U.S.

  • Blue and yellow parrot on a branch 3D pen art
  • 3D pen art: Baby elephant walking near rock in dirt.
  • Two alligators sitting on a rock - 3D pen art
  • Giraffe standing in grass - 3D pen art

Animal Adventures

Green plastic bead alligator on white surface (3D pen art)

Take the adventure home by creating some of your favorite zoo animals with your 3D pen. Design a giraffe, elephant, lion, alligator, or parrot with our latest stencil and tutorial. Choose your favorite colors and come up with names for your new zoo friends.

Using your new zoology skills, explain the habits and behavior of each animal you create and set the stage for a zoo day at home!

Share your zoo adventure with us! @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate.

Crafty Ideas to Rule Your Room

It’s that time of year when college students head back to campus and deck out their dorm rooms with a goal of maximizing space and making it feel like home.

In fact, dorm tours and transformations are sweeping across TikTok with amazing results for super traditional spaces. Clearly, how you decorate your room says a lot about your sense of style. After reviewing all the recommendations, there are a few common themes that stand out to make a space comfortable, stylish, and cozy.

3Doodler has a bunch of DIY projects to complement each theme and help kickstart your creativity. The following trends are sure to help design a relaxing and functional space you can enjoy!

1. Make It Bright

Be sure to think about how to place lighting around your room. Consider how you’ll use your space – read, work, craft, and sleep. All these areas benefit from different lighting. You may want a reading lamp near your bed or desk to focus on your work. A smaller light may work well on a bedside table or dresser to add ambiance. Finally, consider fairy or LED lights for a cozier feel.

The lotus light is a fun project that adds a bit of relaxation to your room. Design it in the color of your choice to get the right ambiance for your room!

Download Stencil

Tips:
  • Watch the video tutorial for tips to create the curved petals and to attach the pieces together for the final result.

2. Express Yourself

No room is complete without a few decorative touches that speak to your personality. A fun print on a chair or throw pillows might do the trick. A custom picture frame or cork board to add photos and artwork are fun to feature too. Take your time to make your space your own with items that speak to your personality. A Pinterest board is a great way to add and save ideas as you go from colors to fabrics and more.

Picture frames are easy to design using a stencil or doodle a more decorative version that incorporates different elements. The choice is yours!

Download Stencil

  • 3D pen art: Dog lying on deck in photoframe.
  • Young girl's 3D pen artwork displayed in photoframe.

3. Outdoors In

Greenery in any form helps boost creativity and concentration. Plants make a great addition to any space but it can take time to keep them healthy and fresh. Succulents are the easiest plants to maintain when time is tight.

3Doodler offers a succulent template too if you’re looking for an easy option to bring the outside in. Feature on a desk or shelf to bring a pop of green into your space.

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Tips:
  • Succulents vary in style and color. Explore the options and doodle others.

4. Maximize Space

Organizing items to reduce clutter and make the most of each inch in your room is always important. Add storage with cubbies and consider shelving to neatly arrange books and other study materials. Small bowls and jars make great places to store keys, pens, pencils and more. Place them in a convenient location to quickly drop items when you’re on the go.

These DIY bowls are made from wood, but could be crafted out of any material that suits your space. An organizer is a great way to sort supplies and keep things tidy. Grab your pen and choose the colors that best complement your room for these easy-to-create designs!

Download Stencil


Tips:

5. Add Whimsy

At home or at college, spaces need to feel comfortable and engaging. Including some whimsical items creates a sense of fun and offers up a few pieces that spark conversation. Whether it’s an item from home to bring about good memories or a new decorative piece that inspires your imagination, these items can go a long way to making your space unique and relaxing.

Enjoy a morning coffee or tea while protecting your furniture with these delicate and decorative coasters. Upcycle everyday items like a jar and create a one-of-kind piece like this pineapple container to conceal candy stash. These ideas are sure to impress and are quick and easy to create with your 3D pen!


  • 3D pen art: Pineapple in jar with green leaf.
  • Small blue flower on green leaf - 3D pen art

Share your dorm tour or transformation with @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate.

Sunny Start for Back to School

Celebrate summer with hands-on learning in this round up of back-to-school lessons for students in grades K-8!

Summer may be coming to a close, but we’ve got some surefire ways to add a little sunshine to your back-to-school lesson plan as students return to the classroom. There are a variety of ways to combine hands-on creativity with impactful lessons that make new concepts stick with 3Doodler’s selection of 3D pens.

We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite lessons to build on summer fun and get the school year off to a great start. Read on to bring creativity to life in your classroom as students go back to school!

  • Mini wooden boat with flag, crafted using a 3D pen.
  • 3Doodler art: Sundial giraffe cross on paper plate, made with sticks.
  • 3D pen art: Paper house model on table, Back to School Lesson roundup.

Floating Doodles: Grades K-2

The hot days of summer bring to mind days at the beach or visits to a lake or stream to cool off and explore nature. Tap into those memories with a lesson in buoyancy that your students won’t soon forget. In this lesson, students will work in pairs to design, test, and iterate on boats they’ve designed with easy to find materials and their 3Doodler pens. Once their designs are finished, test them out in a tub of water to see which one floats the longest. Get the floating doodle lesson and set sail!

Dial Up the Sun: Grades 3-5

The sundial is the earliest type of time keeping device. It determines the time of day by tracking the shadow of an object, often referred to as a gnomon, as it is exposed to the sun’s rays. Now your students will have an opportunity to combine history and science in an interesting lesson on time by doodling their own sundial. Working in groups, students will craft a gnomon to attach to a flat surface and track time over a period of hours. Take this lesson further to have students make observations and predictions about time using their newly doodled device. Sunny days are ahead with the dial up the sun lesson.

3Doodler City: Grade 6-8 

Give your students a chance to reflect on their travels this summer and their local community with a lesson in building a city or town. The American Institute of Architects explains how early exposure to design concepts supports critical thinking and creativity. Invite your class to reimagine a city and build it from the ground up to include everything from houses and hospitals to banks, schools, parks, libraries and more. Use geometry to determine the shape the building will take and design by calculating the area and the perimeter. Apply real-world problem solving by using math and hands-on tech to create a 3Doodler city with this lesson!

These lessons are sure to inspire your class by working together to design creative solutions to real world challenges.

Share what you create by tagging us in your comments — @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate.

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

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