Over the summer, I am always looking for things to do with my library programming that is fun (because if it’s not fun then they will not come in) and educational (because over the summer they are not exposed to as much education as during the school year).
I bought a 3D Magic Pen about a year ago, around the same time I bought a 3D printer. Students really overlooked the pen for the bigger item, so I try to make special programming just for the 3D pen so students are exposed to it. A 3D pen is an easy, fun, and cost-effective way to integrate STEM into your classroom or library that also allows students the freedom to be creative.
Here are three activities that I plan on doing with my students over the summer. Enjoy!
1. Incorporate Literature
One fun activity to integrate literature and STEM is by reading any picture book then having the students draw their favorite character or scene with the 3D pen. You can have students first draw the character on paper before recreating it with the 3D pen so they know what they are making beforehand. You could also assign extra credit by having the students write an alternate ending to the story including a surprise character, then draw that character with the 3D pen.
2. Create an Animal
Summer is all about beaches and water, so what better way to celebrate summer fun than by having the students build their favorite sea animal with a 3D pen? You could have the students build their favorite sea animal and then create a video or presentation over why that is their favorite sea animal. If you would like to integrate some research into the lesson as well, you could have the students research the biome and life cycle of their animal and share that research as well as their animal.
Younger students can explore their imaginations with the 3D pen. Ask them to draw their favorite animal or even create an animal that doesn’t exist! Sometimes just allowing the younger students to have fun and get creative is the best thing you can do for them.
3. Make a Monument
Traveling is one of my personal favorite things that I look forward to for summer. When I was growing up, my family would take long road trips to various national monuments, and I can honestly say that was one of my favorite things we did together. Have your students embark on a fun historical STEM project by picking a national monument that they want to visit, researching it, and building it using the 3D pen. Sometimes our students can’t travel and experience the monuments in person but by building a monument themselves, they are able to visualize and experience it in a small way.
I created some 3D pen STEM challenge cards that I will also be using with my 3D pen that you can download for free here. If you are interested in purchasing a 3D Magic Pen, check it out on STEM Supplies!
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