3D Design Lab Jr.

About this event

Does your little learner love making things with their hands — and have you been eyeing our 3D Printing class but realized they're not quite old enough yet? We have the perfect next step. 3D Design Lab Jr. introduces first and second graders to the real world of 3D creation using the award-winning 3Doodler Start+ Pen — a completely safe, no-hot-parts 3D pen designed for children ages 6 and up. Instead of watching a machine print, your young designer holds the pen and draws directly in three dimensions, guiding eco-friendly filament that hardens in seconds into something real they can hold, display, and take home. Over 12 weeks, students will complete one original build per session — butterflies, dinosaurs, castles, dreamcatchers, superhero masks, and more — all drawn from the 3Doodler's own activity guide and stencil library. The semester wraps with a Mini Museum Showcase where students display all 12 of their works and share their favorites with family. WHAT STUDENTS WILL LEARN Fine Motor Skills & Hand Strength Guiding a 3D pen builds the same hand muscles and precision that support handwriting, cutting, and other early childhood milestones. Students will develop control and confidence with every session as their technique grows week over week. Spatial Reasoning & 3D Thinking Students move from flat stencils to freestanding three-dimensional structures, discovering firsthand how 2D shapes become 3D forms. This foundational understanding of shape, structure, and dimension connects directly to early math and geometry concepts. Design Thinking & Creative Problem Solving Every session begins with a plan and ends with a real creation. Students practice sketching their ideas, following step-by-step stencils, making design choices, and improving their builds when something doesn't go as expected — the same process real designers and engineers use every day. STEAM Connections Builds are intentionally connected to science (butterfly life cycles, animal habitats, weather and seasons), math (shapes, patterns, symmetry), and language arts (storytelling, character design, and presenting their work at the final showcase). This is hands-on learning that goes far beyond craft time. Teamwork & Communication Students work alongside peers in a small-group setting, sharing materials, celebrating each other's builds, and practicing the respectful collaboration skills that Snapology programs are built around. CLASS SCHEDULE 2:30-3:30pm: Local Park Visit, Snack, Homework Help, Guided Free Choice 3:30-4:00pm: Warm Up Robotic Activity 4:00-5:30pm: Feature Activity 5:30-5:45 pm: Free Choice & Parent Pickup ADDITIONAL DETAILS CLICK HERE for our FAQ and General Policies Guide Complimentary Bus Stop Pickup Available Classes are held on all Tuesdays except for those days when school is closed. All Afterschool Students receive 10% off on No-School Camp Days at The Afterschool Collective. Full Semester price is discounted to $90 per session rather than the $105 per session drop in investment