Lessons in Creativity: ELA & Literacy in 3D

Finding new ways to differentiate classroom content to appeal to all learners is a tough task. Adding a dose of creative exploration can help inspire even the most reluctant learners. This set of ELA lessons offer a little something for everyone with a good amount of flexibility to adapt to the needs of each student.

Each of these lessons was curated by our community of teachers who took care to align to content standards. So, while students are busy creating mini masterpieces, you know they are also gaining critical content and learning to apply it through a project-based experience.

Each lesson is set for a grade level span and offers resources to tailor it further. So, are you ready to teach compound-words, character trait development, and even the vocabulary and elements from the periodic table in 3D? Let’s get started!

Grade K-2: Compound Words

Understanding compound words can help build student confidence, improve vocabulary, and expand literacy skills. There are various ways to tackle this topic from worksheets and crosswords to more hands-on fun pairing words together. Take this lesson off the page with a 3Doodler method to explore compound words. First, students work in pairs to form compound words. Each partner will create a stencil to illustrate one of the words in the compound word and doodle it. It’s a creative, memorable way to understand a new concept and increase vocabulary.

Colorful 3D pen masks on a detailed wall design

Grade 3-5: Developing a Character

Character development is a critical skill to master as students explore short-form narratives and fictional writing. By understanding a character’s actions and emotions, they build comprehension too. Working together, in this lesson, students will create a story character and related characteristics. Next, they will be able to bring their character to life in 3D. Finally, they will write a short narrative based on inferences. Expanding on this experience, the Kennedy Center offers a unique spin that encourages students to dramatize their character for an audience.

Grade 6-8: Elemental Superheroes & Supervillians

  • Silver surfer in front of a sun, created with a 3D pen.
  • Man in green costume, hands on hips, in 3D drawing
  • Cartoon: Cobaltman in blue suit with 3D pen art baseball bat

Integrate arts, science, and ELA in a unique lesson that will have everyone excited to participate. While this lesson focuses on science by studying the periodic table, it also encourages literacy, language, art skills. Students work together to research and write about an element on the periodic table. Then, using a 3Doodler 3D pen, they will design a superhero or supervillain mask to illustrate the qualities of their periodic element. Add to the intrigue by having each team of students create a riddle to have their peers guess which element the mask represents. Look at comic book characters through the years and see which ones were actually based on periodic table elements!

 

Show us how you bring creativity to the classroom with hands-on ELA lessons and activities tagging @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate.

  

 

Bring Summer Reading to Life in 3D

Did you know that summer reading often promotes academic achievement more effectively than summer school does?

Books provide a great summer escape, and reading develops students’ comprehension and their ability to retain information. Research suggests that learners who read over summer break show a significantly higher level of literacy and academic gains. This same study shows that the progress made by summer readers is equal to, and sometimes even greater than, the achievements made in summer school!

As school comes to a close and summer weather heats up, students might be reluctant to pick up a book. So, how can parents and teachers get learners excited about their summer reading list?

Dioramas are impactful projects that support student creativity and imagination, as well as enhance learning. The process of creating a diorama supports three dimensional thinking, hands on learning, creative problem solving, and artistic expression. Learners must use critical thinking skills to pick a scene from a book, plan their project, then bring their ideas to life in 3D.

In short, dioramas are a surefire way to bring fun, creativity, and enhanced learning to the summer reading list. Just share these easy steps below so learners can bring their favorite summer read to the third dimension.

3Doodler Summer Reading Design ChallengeA diorama activity for all grades!

Materials:

Now it’s time to make your diorama

The featured diorama is based on Animal Farm
  • Farm and animal 3D pen art on card.
  • Tabletop 3D pen art: cute fake animal creations.
  • 3D pen art featuring farm animals on grass
  • 3D cake with cow atop - 3D pen art
  • 3D pen pigs in plastic house
  1. Read a book from your summer reading list.
  2. Choose a scene from the story that you want to bring to life.
  3. Integrate at least five aspects of the scene you selected into the design.
  4. Next, plan your design. Brainstorm how your figures and scene props will look, and how you will include them. Sketch a draft to help you visualize the outcome.
  5. Use the 3Doodler pen along with upcycled materials to create a scene based on the sketches you came up with.
  6. Once your diorama is complete, share it on social media!

You can browse our free stencils for figurines, chairs, trees, cars, and other items you may want to include in your project.

We can’t wait to see reading come to life in 3D! Share your projects on twitter, instagram, or facebook, and be sure to tag @3Doodler.

#3Doodler #3DoodlerEDU #SummerReading #WhatWillYouCreate

The featured diorama is based on one of our favorite summer reads, Animal Farm, by George Orwell.