3D Pen Projects for Beginners: 4D An Augmented Reading Experience

Gr 2–4—Here's a STEM series that takes advantage of new technology and encourages even young children to solder, code, and employ trial and error to achieve results. About 10 projects per volume demonstrate science principles such as pressure, conductivity, friction, and logic. The activities in each book are of uneven difficulty—the flimsy materials used in Building will lead to impressive collapses, and projects in 3D Pen have up to 22 steps. The app content is also inconsistent; the included videos range from demonstrations of steps or finished projects to archival footage to animated diagrams. Scratch is a standout for its color-coded instructions, photos, and screen recordings of each project's entire coding process. Numbered images show what the projects should look like at crucial stages. Overall the series has an uncluttered and cheerful design.