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Estill Springs students showcase 3D printing, AI workflow and holiday projects
Summary
Students from Estill Springs Elementary demonstrated 3D-design ornaments (including AI-assisted workflows), first-grade job-themed activities and 5th-grade cultural holiday presentations at the Dec. 19 board meeting.
Students from Estill Springs Elementary and other district schools presented projects at the Estill County Board of Education meeting on Dec. 19, highlighting classroom use of 3D printing, an AI-assisted design workflow and student research on diverse holiday traditions.
Mister Matthew, the classroom teacher who led the district demonstration, brought two students to showcase their 3D-design work. He described Ella’s multi-iteration ornament and Riley’s project, which required converting fan art into a 3D-printable model. "We used AI to remove the background...then we found an AI tool to turn it to a 3D model," Matthew said, describing steps that included upscaling an image, background removal and CAD edits before printing. He noted the classroom currently has a one-color printer and that finishing is done with oil-based paint pens; he has applied for a grant to acquire multi-color printers (estimated at about $1,200 each).
Teachers also highlighted classroom work that connects curriculum to social and emotional learning. A first-grade class completed a job-application-themed unit where students applied to be elves with roles such as toy maker and gift wrapper, demonstrating early literacy and civic-connections in class activities. Fifth graders presented independent research on Hanukkah and Chinese New Year, discussing origins, customs, seasonal timing on lunar/ Hebrew calendars, and traditional foods and activities.
Music and performing arts were showcased as well: the board heard an a cappella holiday piece from choral students under music teacher Lydia Smith, who the superintendent introduced as in her first year with the district.
Why it matters: Teachers and district staff framed the presentations as examples of growing student engagement, cross-curricular learning and technology integration. The classroom 3D-printing examples were highlighted as early exposure to design workflows that connect to biomedical, automotive and other technical fields the teacher said he hopes to link with regional partners.
What’s next: The teacher said he is pursuing grants to add color-capable printers and plans to set up virtual meetings with partner students in regional programs to share projects and build collaborations.
