literature - 3Doodler https://learn.the3doodler.com 3Doodler Learning Portal Tue, 08 Nov 2022 09:11:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Create Creepy, Crazy, or Cool Monsters with 3Doodler https://learn.the3doodler.com/blog/create-creepy-crazy-cool-monsters-with-3doodler/ Wed, 19 Oct 2022 14:00:33 +0000 https://learn.local/?p=20610 Explore the history of monsters and design a few scary, hairy, one-eyed creatures with a 3D pen, free stencil, and tutorial.

The post Create Creepy, Crazy, or Cool Monsters with 3Doodler first appeared on 3Doodler.

]]> Explore the history of monsters and design a few scary, hairy, one-eyed creatures with a 3D pen. With Halloween on the horizon, there’s no better time to learn about monsters and create them in 3D using your imagination.

Monsters pre-date written history as stories of them persist across the ages sparking fear, fascination, and even pity. Frankenstein, Dracula werewolves, cyclops, mummies, and zombies have terrified and delighted audiences worldwide for decades. They appear in novels, on television, in movies, and music. In recent times, monsters have been depicted as friendly, misunderstood creatures and invoke a sympathetic response. Cookie Monster, Chewbacca, Shrek, and Monsters Inc. are examples of approach, furry monsters.

With so many examples to choose from, it’s hard to decide where to begin. So follow along to create some ghastly ghouls and purple people eaters!

Early Science Fiction: Frankenstein

Close-up 3D pen art: Frankenstein movie poster with man and monster
In 1818, one of the most well-known monsters debuted in Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus. The story recounts the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who pursues an unorthodox method to bring a creature to life and is later horrified by his creation. The novel is considered the first true science fiction story. It has influenced literature and popular culture considerably, spawning plays, films, and more. Frankenstein, an American Horror movie, was released in 1931 featuring Boris Karloff.

Mainstream Monster Madness

In the 1900s, monster mayhem became mainstream with more approachable characters. The song Monster Mash was released by Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt Keepers in 1962. It’s become a staple of Halloween culture. Much like the latest TikTok trend, novelty dances were all the rage in the 1960s, and Monster Mash paired well with a popular dance at the time, the Mashed Potato. The song remains a classic. A few years later, in 1964, the Addams Family launched a whole family of bizarre characters in a series of single cartoons created by Charles Addams for The New Yorker.

Friendly Faces Inspire Kindness

Fast forward to the present, and monsters have become more kid-friendly in movies like Monsters Inc. and Hotel Transylvania. These films offer some creative creatures who look a lot less scary and are much more approachable to younger audiences.

The whole Monsters, Inc. crew! Credit: Disney The whole Monsters, Inc. crew! Credit: Disney

Monster Making with 3Doodler

Exploring monsters through history, we noticed a few key traits that all monsters seem to share. So as you’re thinking about crafting a monster in 3D, be sure to keep four main character traits top of mind.

Character Traits

  • Physical: What are your monster’s physical traits? Is it big and tall or small and short? Does it have large teeth or sharp claws?

  • Physiological: What scares you? What makes your monster scary?

  • Target: What motivates your monster? What or who is it trying to get?

  • Weakness: Monsters aren’t invincible. What is it that makes your monster disappear? How will you defeat it?


Now, take your ideas and imagine how your monster should look. This free 3Doodler stencil will give you plenty of options to create a monster of your own. The template provides different shapes that you can combine to come up with a scary or silly creature all your own. Review the tutorial to see how to combine the shapes and where to add detail to customize your creation.

Let your imagination run wild as you bring your version of a modern-day monster to life with @3Doodler!

The post Create Creepy, Crazy, or Cool Monsters with 3Doodler first appeared on 3Doodler.

]]> Reading and Reflection on Display in 3D https://learn.the3doodler.com/blog/doodle-for-the-love-of-literature/ https://learn.the3doodler.com/blog/doodle-for-the-love-of-literature/#respond Wed, 02 Sep 2020 13:00:14 +0000 https://learn.local/?p=13636 With National Read a Book Day falling on September 6th, and International Literacy Day on September 9th, this week is the perfect time to read a great book and pair it with a fun activity.

The post Reading and Reflection on Display in 3D first appeared on 3Doodler.

]]> Foster a love of reading and celebrate literacy with 3Doodler to mark National Read a Book Day and International Literacy Day! Create in 3D and build comprehension with activities that inspire reflection.

Free Book Worm Bookmark Stencil Free Book Worm Bookmark Stencil

At 3Doodler, we’re working with our community of educators to inspire young readers and help them showcase comprehension and reflect on stories they’ve read with hands-on fun. Explore two of our ELA lesson plans, encourage students to bring stories to life, and check out our fun bookmark stencil to boost classroom creativity.

"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one."-George R. R. Martin Share

Elementary School

Puppets and Props Lesson Plan Puppets and Props Lesson Plan

In this English Language Arts activity, students participate in a read aloud, shared or guided classroom experience and then work together to create a scene from the story using Doodled finger puppets. Story retells are a great way to build language, speaking, and listening skills. The students’ puppets and shows will reflect their understanding of story structure, sequence, and reading comprehension.

Suggested Books

Pie is for Sharing by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard
Saffron Ice Cream by Rashin Kheiriyeh

Middle and High School

3Doodler Stop-Motion Lesson Plan 3Doodler Stop-Motion Lesson Plan

Invite critical thinking and design to your next ELA class. Encourage students to demonstrate their understanding of theme and character development with a creative project. In this lesson, students choose a scene that best reflects the theme and create a 3Doodler stop-motion animation film to illustrate the selected scene. This hands-on project will help assess comprehension and presentation skills.

Suggested Books

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Be sure to share your ELA projects with the 3Doodler EDU community on social media. We can’t wait to see what you create! @3Doodler #3Doodler #InternationalLiteracyDay #NationalReadABookDay

Be sure to check out our library of FREE K-12 Lesson Plans!

View Lesson Plans

The post Reading and Reflection on Display in 3D first appeared on 3Doodler.

]]> https://learn.the3doodler.com/blog/doodle-for-the-love-of-literature/feed/ 0