(under construction - please check back soon!)
We are a group of parents and educators based in Alachua County, Florida. We love the concepts of the Maker movement, especially 3D printing. We are passionate in our belief that children from middle-school upwards can learn the basics of 3D printing and 3D print design.
This site is meant to be a resource for parents and educators (including home-schoolers) who want to learn about 3D printing in general, and perhaps get ideas, presentations and lesson plans for teaching 3D printing. We favor a hands-on approach, focusing on three educational principles:
1. Challenge - Every child should get some challenges to expand the scope of their knowledge and experience.
2. Engagement - Every child should feel engaged with challenges, learning and activities which catch their interest.
3. Application - Every child should have a chance to engage hands-on with activities which apply what they've learned.
You may be considering buying a 3D printer for home use. These have become very affordable but it's worth doing your research ahead of time.
If you’re considering buying a 3D printer you can currently get a Creality K1 SE printer for around $250 on Amazon (current pricing as of September 2025, expect some fluctuations). If you use it with PLA filament (what we generally recommend for beginnings, made from plant materials and non-toxic) expect to pay $20 or less for a 1kg spool of 1.75mm filament.
There are different types of 3D printers available, including resin printers (many of the kids we teach have expressed an interest in printing figurines). Be aware that resin printing may require using a well-ventilated area. Some people are sensitive to the smell of PLA printing as well but resin printing uses some chemicals that give off toxic fumes. We encourage you to do your own research!