Engineering & 3D Design

Free digital library of standards-aligned K-12 engineering lessons, activities, and curricula from the University of Colorado Boulder and partners. Searchable by grade, subject, and standard.

Museum of Science, Boston program offering elementary engineering and technology curriculum units that connect to science and literacy, plus free teacher resources.

Professional 3D CAD, CAM, and simulation software available free to eligible students and educators. Suited to advanced design, engineering, and manufacturing courses.

Free, open-source parametric 3D CAD modeler for product design and engineering. Runs offline on any computer, making it a no-cost option for advanced CAD courses.

Free, open-source 3D creation suite for modeling, animation, and rendering. Supports art, game design, and animation projects, with a steeper learning curve than beginner tools.

Browser-based 3D modeling tool for architecture, design, and woodworking projects. A free plan is available with limits, and education options exist. Good for spatial reasoning and design projects.

Online simulator for Arduino, ESP32, and Raspberry Pi Pico projects. Students can write code and wire virtual circuits in the browser with no hardware needed. A free tier is available.

Free, interactive electronic circuit simulator that shows current and voltage animated in real time. Includes many example circuits for physics and electronics lessons.

Free block and JavaScript editor with an on-screen simulator for programming the micro:bit, a pocket-sized computer. Includes tutorials and projects for physical computing in the classroom.

Free games, videos, and hands-on build challenges from PBS KIDS that introduce the engineering design process. Good for upper elementary and middle school makers.

Free, browser-based tool from Autodesk for 3D design, electronics circuit simulation, and block-based code. A beginner-friendly way to teach design thinking and prepare models for 3D printing, with…

Free, cloud-based professional 3D CAD for students and educators, with classroom management and certification options. Suited to high school engineering, design, and 3D printing courses where…