This collection of lessons from Intermediate Unit One combines elements of digital fabrication with mental health wellness supports for all students.
Mini LED Flashlight
Students will design and fabricate their very own mini LED flashlights! Students will create a case that fits all of the internal components of the flashlight. This can be done using…
REMIX: MP3 SPEAKER + MENTAL HEALTH
Students will be given an amplifier/speaker kit to assemble and solder. Students will also create a casing for this circuit system. This can be achieved by using the step-by-step tutorial…
Personalized Rally Towels
Students will create a personalized rally towel that contains at least one image and a name. This can be done using the step-by-step tutorial design that follows, or by creating their…
IN THIS COLLECTION
Intermediate Unit One is committed to improving the educational outcomes of children and adolescents who experience mental health needs by providing both targeted and general mental health wellness activities in classrooms, including FabLab classrooms.
General mental health supports are provided in each lesson so that any digital fabrication instructor can incorporate mental wellness strategies.
about intermediate unit one
Intermediate Unit One (IU1) is a regional education service agency that strives to provide educational support to students, parents, educators, administrators, and communities throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. IU1 operates two campus schools which house digital fabrication labs designed to serve students with severe mental health needs. IU1 is committed to providing the highest level of emotional health care through unique social work opportunities within their fabrication labs.
Mental health wellness and DIGITAL FABRICATION
Good mental health is related to mental and psychological well-being. The World Health Organization states that worldwide 10-20% of children and adolescents experience mental disorders. Neuropsychiatric conditions are the leading cause of disability in young people in all regions. If untreated, these conditions severely influence children’s development, their educational attainments and their potential to live fulfilling and productive lives. Visit the World Health Organization for more: https://www.who.int/mental_
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, 2026
Agro-Tech Dome قبة التكنولوجيا الزراعية
يستكشف المشاركون كيف يمكن للتكنولوجيا أن تدعم الزراعة المستدامة والحفاظ على الأعشاب والنباتات المحلية. من خلال أنشطة عملية، يقوم المتعلمون بتصميم وبناء قبة زراعية (Agri-Dome) باستخدام النمذجة ثلاثية الأبعاد والطباعة…
April 13, 2026
The Magic of Sound: Rain Stick Resonance Lab
This project combines physical computing with music, science, art, and math. It uses a micro:bit to detect the ideal sound of a rain stick and react two ways: “rain-like” sound…
April 13, 2026
Technology and Ecosystems
In elementary, we try to have classes work together to give students the opportunity to have integrated, meaningful learning. During this unit, the kids from second grade were learning about…
April 13, 2026
Smart Recycling System: Building an AI-powered bin
Students build, and program a smart recycling bin that automatically opens when a specific type of waste is recognised. Using a Micro:bit, a servo motor, and a machine learning model…
April 11, 2026
Interactive Electronic Board Game
Your students will use probability, design and technology to create their own unique board game.
April 10, 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.