Making a Mardi Gras-Inspired Patch Using Algorithmic Design
What is an algorithm? How can algorithms be used to create cultural designs and 3D models? This lesson explores these questions by using visual programming to help students explore computational…
Ring Ceremony: Custom 3D Print Rings
Rings are customizable, simple objects to 3D print. Over the course of five classes (hours), students will design and print rings to wear and share with classmates. This lesson uses…
Biomedical Engineer – Middle School Remix
This lesson reflects on “Everyday in the life of a Biomedical Engineer” What does a Biomedical Engineer do? Biomedical Engineer Conduct research, along with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists,…
Coding 3D Models Using Tinkercad Codeblocks
Inspired by contemporary South African baskets and hats, this activity explores craft through computation, 3D modeling and 3D printing. Students will use object-oriented computer programming, meaning they will place a…
Lesson Landing Pad: 3D Printing
This is a new type of lesson page! Instead of serving as a place to find a singular lesson about 3D printing, this is a page that will serve as…
tarukantohku: Digital Design Rooted in Storytelling Tradition
The purpose of this lesson is to promote collaboration between educational and cultural programming, specifically for the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana. The Tunica-Biloxi are a federally recognized tribe with population…
Music & 3D Modeling: From James Brown to Architecture
Black History Month recognizes the heritage, accomplishments, and culture of African Americans in the United States. In honor of this month, this project combines black music, 3D modeling and laser…
Tinkercad & Chibi Chip Electronic Cards
This “Hour of Code” project is part of Computer Science Education Week from December 3 – 7 but the lesson can be done any time of the year. Students explore…
Finding Fibonacci in the Helicone
Leonardo of Pisa (c.1170–c.1250), also known as Fibonacci, is often considered the most talented mathematician of the Middle Ages. In this lesson students discover the mystical nature of the famous…
Wind Turbine STEM/Digital Fabrication Challenge
Enhance your subject area content and career connections by using digital fabrication to design and make blades for a wind turbine.
From Digital to Physical: Geometric Translations
In this guide you will learn to develop a general workflow between 3D modeling softwares and planar assembly techniques for laser cutting using geometric translation tools. This guide will focus…
Fab Sneakers Workshop
Fabricating shoes presents fun opportunities for student to learn principles from design and mathematics while they explore digital fabrication process such as 3D modeling for 3D printing, laser cutting for…
Wearable Tech in Afrofuturism
Afrofuturism encompasses a wide variety of creative explorations across numerous fields – music, art, film, and literature – over nearly a half-century in black culture. This lesson plan explores the…
Child Designed Furniture
Creating classroom furniture with children is one example of a successful scaffolded fabrication activity that can be an empowering experience for young children. This experience includes adults working alongside children…
Dora Milaje Tabi Boot
This lesson originates from Ruth Carter’s approach to costume design for the Black Panther film. Students will create a pattern using software to be laser etched into soft material that…
Wakandan Bling
This lesson is inspired by different designers’ approaches for the Black Panther film. For example, LA-based designer Douriean Fletcher curated a special set of jewelry such as beaded bracelets, necklaces…
Exploring Plant and Animal Cells Through 3D Models
In this lesson, students explore the structure and function of plant and animal cells using 3D printed models as a hands-on teaching aid. Students interact with physical representations of cells…
April 26, 2026
From Waste to Growth: Designing Biodegradable Seed Starters
In this interdisciplinary lesson, students engage in a design challenge to create a biodegradable seed starter using everyday materials. Students explore how waste materials, such as food scraps and paper…
April 26, 2026
Interactive Storytelling: Exploring Choices Using a Joystick
In this lesson, students create a simple interactive story using a joystick and Arduino. The joystick represents choices in the story, and the Arduino displays the outcome of those choices…
April 26, 2026
Plastic-Free Power: Build Your Own Biobag!
In this hands-on, project-based lesson, students explore the science of materials and sustainability by designing and creating their own reusable bags from homemade bioplastics. Using simple ingredients: water, gelatin, glycerin,…
April 22, 2026
Once Upon a Screen: Digital Story Illustrations
Students will use ScratchJr to create a simple digital illustration of a story’s character, setting, or events and explain how it helps tell the story.
April 22, 2026
Morse Messenger
In the beginning, Samuel flipped a switch. And again, and again. 44 miles away, his assistant heard an eerie sound, and soon understood the words, “What hath God Wrought?” …
April 20, 2026
Snap-a-word Builders: Creating words brick by brick
In this hands-on phonics lesson, students explore short vowel sounds by building and manipulating CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words using 3D printed interlocking letter blocks. Students practice isolating, blending, and segmenting sounds…
April 20, 2026
Plant Saver
During the lesson, students learn the basics of physical programming. The objective: create a simple system that will inform us about the condition of the soil in houseplants. This is…
April 19, 2026
Popsicle Stick Presto
This project will lead a group of aspiring drivers through the steps to build a rolling chassis out of popsicle sticks, assemble it with a breadboard, Arduino uno, A motor…
April 19, 2026
Way of the Wind Turbine
How does a wind turbine create electricity out of thin air? Prototype one and find out! In this lesson a miniature prototype will be designed and built to observe wind…
April 17, 2026
Educational Toy Design Challenge
This unit (6 lessons) immerses students in the full MYP Design Cycle through an authentic, real-world challenge: designing an age-appropriate educational toy. Students act as professional toy designers, researching early…
April 17, 2026
How to Not Take the Slate for Granted
This lesson is for instructing beginning video production students using multiple recording instruments for the first time, and will guide them through using a clapboard or “slate” to create an…
April 16, 2026
Plant Monitoring with micro:bit Sensors & Custom Potting
Students will design and grow a plant in a custom 3D-printed pot while building a micro:bit-based sensor system to monitor environmental conditions (light, temperature, and soil moisture). After researching their…
April 16, 2026
Biomimicry Prototype Project: Sustainable design inspired by rolly pollies
In this lesson, 3rd grade students will observe and study characteristics and patterns found in nature that can be imitated to solve real-world problems. This approach is called biomimicry. As…
April 14, 2026
SMART PLANT SYSTEMS (MICRO:BIT + 3D DESIGN)
Students will design and grow a plant in a custom 3D-printed pot while building a micro:bit-based sensor system to monitor environmental conditions (light, temperature, and soil moisture). They will use…
April 13, 2026
The Magic of Sound: Rainstick Resonance Lab
This project combines physical computing with music, science, art, and math for 1st graders. How ever, the two strongest components are music and engineering. This project uses a micro:bit to…
April 13, 2026STANDARDS-ALIGNED
Community contributed lessons aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) offer formal educators innovative pathways to teaching content knowledge. The Fab I Can Statements are a resource to develop technology-literate learning progressions to align with content standards.
FAB TESTED
Periodically lessons are adapted and tested by the Fab Foundation team based on a call for submissions from fabbers, educators, and makers. Our inaugural set of lessons for the SCOPES-DF project were Fab Tested in 2016 and are tagged Fab Tested on the website.
OPEN-SOURCE VALUES
Lessons are distributed under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC license, that permits free use and re-purposing by others.