K–6TechNest
3D Modeling
Create 3D objects and characters
Quincy
AshBefore you start
- Age band
- K–6
- Time
- 45–90 minutes
- Quest type
- Hanging Out
- Guardian
- Cass · Box Elder
- Materials needed
- Graph Paper Sketchbook
- USB Mouse (Wired)
- 3DConnexion SpaceMouse Compact
Video resources
How 3D Printers Work | How Things Work with Kamri Noel
This 3-minute video from Nat Geo Kids relates to "3D Modeling". Sourced from a vetted educational channel with YouTube safe-search strict. Please preview before sharing — final vetting is a human step.
Watch on YouTube →Why this skill rocks
Imagine making your wildest toy ideas or even a whole new world come alive on a screen! You get to build anything you can dream up.
2034Where this could take you
When the Olympics come to town in 2034, you could be designing cool mascots, special trophies, or even virtual reality worlds for fans!
What You'll Need
Optional materials for this quest.
Graph Paper Sketchbook
RequiredSketch your 3D ideas on paper before modeling — graph paper makes it easy to draw things to scale and plan dimensions. Professional designers always sketch first.
USB Mouse (Wired)
Required3D modeling with a trackpad is genuinely painful — you need to rotate the viewport constantly. A basic wired USB mouse with a scroll wheel makes Tinkercad and Blender about ten times easier to control.
3DConnexion SpaceMouse Compact
A 3D mouse lets you navigate your model with one hand while editing with the other — used by actual product designers and architects. Total overkill for beginners, totally worth it if you get serious.