<p>A member of our hackspace wants to get their 8- and 11- year old kids<sup>1</sup> excited about 3D-printing and CNC cutting and makering in general. We have a weekly open training where people can design and print/CNC/laser an item of their choice like a dogboned box or a two-piece sword and hilt, or a name tag, or whatever. I need a few ideas prepared so we don't spend half our lesson on Thingiverse or in Fusion (more like a quarter)! I'm not a parent and my youngest friend is probably in their twenties.</p>

<p>What we have: </p>

<ul>
<li>a full bed 1200x1800 mm CNC (preferred, because it's loud and fast)</li>
<li>Prusa mk3</li>
<li>cheapo 80W 500x300 mm laser</li>
<li>Fusion 360 based workflow, easy :)</li>
<li>Arduinos and stuff</li>
</ul>

<p>Ideas we've had: a minecraft creeper, done as a simple-ish box.</p>

<p><hr>
<sub>1: the (girls) are not interested in my normal kids' goto, which is: swords, shields. They are interested in: minecraft, dragons, horses. _o_/</sub></p>

<p>edit: this is NOT an opinion-gathering post, though there may be more than one "correct" answer.  We need specific applications of 3d printing for a young audience. This collection of answers will be useful to evangelize making to a whole new generation!</p>

[{'answer_id': 6339, 'author': 'fred_dot_u', 'author_id': 854, 'author_profile': 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/854', 'pm_score': 2, 'selected': False, 'text': '<p>Our local library makerspace holds summer camp for a limited number of lucky attendees, ages from 12-15 and the curriculum has a segment which appears to match your objective.</p>\n\n<p>In the case of the Launch Pad Camp, the campers will be using <a href="http://onshape.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">OnShape</a> to create a keychain/nametag with text of their choosing. It will be an unremarkable 3mm thick x 35-40 mm wide x 70-80 mm long "plank" with a depressed center (by 1.5mm) and raised text. The mentors of the camp expect to be able to teach these campers how to use the software to perform tasks by rote. I assisted the mentor in the process as she had no idea how to use OnShape. Neither did I, but that never slows me down.</p>\n\n<p>Another aspect of her camp is that it will (or may) include using <a href="https://scratch.mit.edu/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Scratch</a> </p>\n\n<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/bqBBt.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/bqBBt.png" alt="scratch screencap"></a></p>\n\n<p>and does include using a Scratch based program called <a href="https://ozoblockly.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Ozoblocky</a> to interface with <a href="https://ozobot.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Ozobots</a>. </p>\n\n<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/BmG3q.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/BmG3q.png" alt="ozoblocky screencap"></a></p>\n\n<p>I suggested to her that she could use <a href="https://www.blockscad3d.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">BlockSCAD</a> to create the 3D objects, as the interface is nearly identical, and in my opinion, very easy to use.</p>\n\n<p>Not surprisingly, BlockSCAD has a series of tutorials available on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs0a4hzd1Tk" rel="nofollow noreferrer">YouTube</a>.</p>\n\n<p>The <a href="https://www.blockscad3d.com/editor/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">editor for BlockSCAD</a> is browser based removing the requirement to install on every computer.</p>\n\n<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/zd5VS.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/zd5VS.png" alt="blockscad editor image"></a></p>\n'}, {'answer_id': 6340, 'author': 'IronEagle', 'author_id': 10957, 'author_profile': 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/10957', 'pm_score': 2, 'selected': False, 'text': '<p>As @fred_dot_u mentioned above, keychains are a simple, personalized item to make.  In terms of interesting projects, things that I found intriguing when I first encountered 3D printing were objects that could not be made by other means, such as those "geared bearings" (<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=geared%20bearings%203d%20print&amp;tbm=isch&amp;tbo=u&amp;source=univ&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjQ9vvpn5LcAhXkKX0KHcqfBLQQsAQITA&amp;biw=1576&amp;bih=820&amp;dpr=1.13" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Google: geared bearings 3d print</a>).  Given the popularity of figet spinners a while back, they could be an interesting item.  <br><br> A captive ball in a box, or three joined rings, can also be set up as a 3D print, and could have the same effect, while being easier for the kids to design. </p>\n\n<p>EDIT:  Some links to versions of items along the above lines.  Thingiverse tends to slowly break links, though, so these might not last:</p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><p><a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:53451" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Geared Bearing</a></p></li>\n<li><p><a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:621854" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Captive Ball</a></p></li>\n<li><p><a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4345" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Three Rings</a></p></li>\n<li><p><a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:79310" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Triple Gear</a></p></li>\n<li><p><a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2148303" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Self-aligning Bushing Keychain</a></p></li>\n</ul>\n'}, {'answer_id': 6341, 'author': 'Greenonline', 'author_id': 4762, 'author_profile': 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/4762', 'pm_score': 2, 'selected': True, 'text': '<p>This question is unfortunately, not a good fit for this site, as it stands, for as you say it is opinion based. However, it is great to see that you are getting kids into a relatively new technology (yes, I know it has been around for years, but it is still seen as new to <em>big media</em> and the general public). </p>\n\n<p><strike>My answer doesn\'t provide you with any actual designs, as you asked for.</strike> However, just to add an idea or two that I have been thinking about recently, in order to engage kids:</p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><p>Have you thought about using 3D printing pens (as side projects to the main feature of the printer)? Although I\'m not so sure that the fumes at such close proximity would be that great, unless using PLA. That really would show close up the additive process.</p></li>\n<li><p>Also, there is a lot of useful sites to be found on <a href="https://www.google.co.th/search?q=T3d%20printing%20for%20kids" rel="nofollow noreferrer">google</a> (which you have probably seen), such as:</p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href="https://www.kidscodecs.com/what-is-3d-printing/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">kidscodecs - What is 3D printing?</a></li>\n<li>All3DP has <a href="https://all3dp.com/1/3d-printed-toys-kids-3d-printing-toys/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">3D Printed Toys – 11 Ideas for Children of all Ages</a>, but these <em>seem</em> to need to be purchased.</li>\n</ul></li>\n<li><p>Alternative applications for kids, from <a href="https://3dprint.com/159445/best-cad-for-kids/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Best CAD Software for Kid Creators</a>, that might be worth considering if Fusion 360 doesn\'t float their <strike>Benchy</strike> boat: </p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href="http://appsforkids.solidworks.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Solidworks Apps for Kids</a>,</li>\n<li>SketchUp </li>\n<li>123D Design</li>\n<li>Tinkercad; </li>\n<li>LeoCAD</li>\n<li>Leopoly</li>\n<li>BlocksCAD</li>\n<li>3D Slash</li>\n<li>Some other ideas from <a href="https://3dprint.com/tag/3d-design-app-for-kids/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">3dPrint.com - 3d design app for kids</a></li>\n</ul></li>\n<li><p>Maybe, as all kids seem to have iPhones, or what have you, these days, how about an App for kids upon which they can play with a design, and then print it later? Such an app would probably provide examples for them to get started with. One such app is the <a href="https://toymaker.astroprint.com" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Toy Maker by AstroPrint</a> - although that may require a commercial printer, I\'m not sure. However, other such apps for smart phones probably are out there. </p></li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>As for examples, there are <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/tag:kids_toy" rel="nofollow noreferrer">42 kids</a> toys tagged on Thingiverse, such as:</p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2238123" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Save the last Unicorn [Game]</a></li>\n<li><a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2855568" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Cartoon Weiner Dog</a></li>\n<li><a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2124806" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Lily Bobtail (Peter Rabbit Series)</a></li>\n<li><a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:368229" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Grand Hillar</a></li>\n</ul>\n\n<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/El7xY.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Grand Hillar"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/El7xY.png" alt="Grand Hillar" title="Grand Hillar"></a></p>\n\n<p>Also to take from IronEagle\'s idea, some fidget spinners:</p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2313626" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Fidget Spinner</a></li>\n<li><a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2285700" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Kid Sized Generic Spinner</a></li>\n<li><a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2245460" rel="nofollow noreferrer">10mm Nut Fidget Spinner</a></li>\n</ul>\n'}]
['https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6338', 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com', 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/11248/']