Please join the SCOPES-DF community in supporting teachers and students during this time away from 3D printers, laser cutters, and other beloved digital fabrication tools.
If you have a lesson that can address standards, incorporate Fab I Can Statements, and be done without complete tool access, please share it today. Fully analog lessons that can teach digital fabrication processes with common items found at home are also welcome.
Be sure to write in the topic field “Unplugged,” so we can feature the lesson in this collection. You can also “Remix” a lesson from another contributor if you have an idea to make it analog. Thanks for helping make this time away from our makerspaces more educational and fun.
Create an Obama Poster
Students will engage with concepts of leadership and service and reflect on MLK and Obama’s legacy in a variety of different ways before creating their own ‘Obama Hope’ poster.
Exploring Arduino
This is a 5 days track focus on learning basic circuits theory and fundamentals in addition to Micro-controllers (parts and operation). Also, we will make some advance applications using the…
Digital Circuits
This is a 5 days Track focus on learning basic circuits theory and fundamentals in addition to Micro-controllers ( parts and operation ). Also we will make some applications using…
Mini T-Shirt Cannon
Engineer a mini T-shirt cannon out of a toilet paper roll and rubber bands to shoot marshmallows at a target or into a crowd! Safety note: This activity requires…
Cardboard Backboard
Learn how to make a cardboard backboard out of household materials. Once assembled, complete the attached statistics worksheet and see how many shots you can make. Apply digital fabrication skills…
Unplugged: Make and Animate- The Thaumatrope
Makers create Thaumatropes with low tech methods and materials. Suitable for fab lab projects from home.
Unplugged: Projecting Geometry for Precision Cutting and Assembly
In this lesson you’ll learn how to make complex and precise geometric assemblies – like the skateboard halfpipe seen here – without the need for a laser cutter. Inherent to…
Unplugged: Design a Biomechanical Cyborg
This activity is a perfect blend of science and creativity as students work with their partner(s) to create their version of a cyborg appendage (or device). This part must mimic the workings…
Unplugged: Cardboard Container
Students are introduced to the Engineering Design Process by creating a cardboard container to hold the contents of their pocket. In this rapid prototyping activity, each step of the EDP…
Unplugged: Makers Making Good- Stopping the Spread
Designed for distance learning, home schooling, and maker machine independent learning. Using household materials, students prototype devices to help stop the spread of infectious diseases.
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…
Add your ‘unplugged’ lesson here
Be sure to tag your lesson as ‘unplugged’.
We hope you can contribute to the lesson collection!
Fabricating Musical Instrument
Students will design and construct a working musical instrument, either digital or analog. by combining fabrication technologies (3D printing, laser cutting, woodworking) with sustainable or upcycled materials. They will do…
February 16, 2026
Emotion box – An Inclusive SEL System
Overview Designed by Grades 7–9 students Created for Grades 1–4 students Supports Emotional Regulation through guided breathing Aligned with Social Emotional Learning (SEL) How It Works Box includes emotion buttons:…
February 15, 2026
Accessible Museums: Tactile and Object Based Exhibit Exploration
This lesson is written for High School aged learners interested in museum studies, accessibility, and/or education. It is written for use in a multi-day museum classroom context, but can be…
February 10, 2026
Digital Storytelling – Sequencing of Events Using Scratch Platform
In this lesson, the students use Scratch to create and sequence digital story scenes in pair. Through this hands-on activities, students practice using time connectives (First, Next, Then, Finally) and…
February 7, 2026
Four Tiered Code & Stitch Making Activity
This is an activity that can be conducted in makerspace for interested students. Students with different level of coding experiences will be able to find suitable levels of task to…
January 21, 2026
Bright Ideas: Lighting Up Art Through the Design Process
Students design and build a functional paper-based electrical circuit using copper tape, LEDs, and coin cell batteries. The circuit is integrated into an original artwork (symbol, illustration, or abstract design).…
January 19, 2026
Traffic Light Centers
As education assistants in the elementary school setting, we frequently observe students’ need to confirm that their work aligns with the parameters and expectations established by the teacher. However, these…
January 10, 2026
Creatures from the Island of Corso 3.0
This creative STEM and maker-based lesson is inspired by the book Criaturas da Ilha de Corso, written by Angela Lago, José Roberto Torero, and Pedro Hamdan das Pedras. In the…
January 4, 2026
Transport for Lucia the Snail
This hands-on STEM workshop is inspired by the children’s book Lúcia Já Vou Indo, written and illustrated by Maria Heloísa Penteado. In the story, Lucia is a snail who is…
January 4, 2026
Lights, camera… action!
This is a lesson where students explore circuits, storytelling principles and build a scenario to present their story. The idea is that a group of students imagine and create a…
January 2, 2026
New Year Greetings with electronics
The main goal of this lesson is to create a simple electrical Christmas toy that lights up when pressed. During this lesson, we’ll explore simple electrical circuits, how they…
December 28, 2025
Emotions in Motion – مشاعر في حركة
This session explores the role of emotions and how they can be expressed through colors, shapes, and sounds. Children engage in an interactive activity using the Makey Makey electronic kit…
December 17, 2025
Awarness Card – بطاقــة توعويـــــة
During this workshop, participants will assemble a simple circuit using conductive tape and chibitronics LED. Participants will learn about sustainability and awareness about energy conservation. خلال هذه الورشة، سيقوم…
December 17, 2025
AI Storytelling – سرد القصص بالذكاء الاصطناعي
In this workshop participants are going to be introduced to AI & Storytelling, they will use Yarn platform that utilizes AI features to make a story about empowering women in…
December 16, 2025
Renewable Energy Lab Tutorial for UNIHIKER K10
This kit is a scientific exploration kit based on the UNIHIKER K10. It is equipped with components such as a wind power generator, a solar panel, and an energy storage…
December 16, 2025
Speed Rolling Down A Ramp | Smart Science Projects
This hands-on science and technology course guides students to recreate Galileo’s classic inclined plane experiment using Micro:bit, BOSON light sensors, and self-made cardboard structures. Students will first master the principle…
December 16, 2025STANDARDS-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.