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Two interesting publications, including Climate Comics

Okido is “the arts and science” magazine for kids ages 3 to 8. It comes out six times a year and is published in a nicely sustainable way.

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For older kids there are a couple of other interesting publications. Newbery Medal winner Paul Fleischman has written Eyes Wide Open for high schoolers. It’s  for kis who are coming to terms with climate change and connecting it to politics.

In a similar vein,  publishers Jacoby & Stuart are releasing a 140-page graphic novel about climate change called The Great Transformation. This one focuses more on explaining the science for kids 14 and up.

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Check them out and let us know what you think.

3D printed decorations for pumpkins

Mix STEM into your Halloween brew

Halloween is around the corner, and this year 3D printing offers a way to tie some design and engineering to costumes and decorations.

3D printed decorations for pumpkins

Cubify is offering 3D printing patterns that are free to download. Along with pumpkin accessories, you can choose masks, mustaches and other spooky decorations. Even better, have a look at these patterns for inspiration and then use one of the simple software programs — such as 123D Design (free from Autodesk), Sculptris (free from Pixologic), or Doodle3D (requires WiFi box), or Makers Empire (free app to download)–  to create your own designs.

And now you can choose from a number of options assuming that, like most people, you don’t have a 3D printer. Options include:

The UPS store, which has rolled out 3D printing services at a number of stores in the US

A few public libraries and many schools

3D printing services such as Sculpteo, i.materialize, and Shapeways

On the subject of costumes, have a look at an amazing suit one woman created through 3D printing.

3D printed costume, Varia suit

It’s a Varia Suit worn by the character Samus Aran in the video game series Metroid. But even if you’re like me and you’ve never heard of the game, it’s still impressive, and all the more inspiring when a woman takes on a project like this (if she is a woman…she’s a bit mysterious). This article (at 3Dprint.com) tells more of the story.

Origami furniture patterns for kids

Origami is trending (for example this robot), and it’s a great way to introduce engineering to kids. We’ve already reported on kid-friendly DIY origami greeting cards. Our upcoming book, Bicycles, Airships and Things that Go, features an origami kayak inspired by Oru.

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Now there’s DIY cardboard kid furniture from Swiss architect Nicola Enrico Stäubli’s FoldSchool (via Inhabitat). The website offers downloadable patterns allowing you and your kids to create a stool, rocker, or chair. Let us know how you get on!

Summer Kids’ Challenge on Design & Sustainability

What have you got planned for summer? Why not try out our 4-week, 4-project challenge with the kids in your life?

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week three’s project covers re-use and closing the loop. Multi-generational, shared dress from Kate Fletcher’s Local Wisdom project

The projects help introduce the design and technology of sustainability (or “resilience,” if you prefer) to kids. We pictured 4 to 12 year olds doing these projects, led by an adult, but the projects could also suit teenagers. Each project challenges you to observe, question, and make design proposals for sustainability. Download it now (about 4MB PDF)

summer challenge
week four’s project looks at cooling the city: Chicago city hall’s green roof and New York’s “nopark”

The projects cover waste and reuse, green spaces (urban cooling), energy use, and nature’s design. There’s an element of STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) which can be played up or down depending on your interests, along with the “A” for art and design!

P.S. we’ve gotten social. We have a facebook page and some pinterest boards