A cactus with spikes living on Mars and snacking on mushrooms. A flying crocodile navigating a swamp world. No, this isn’t the latest sci-fi blockbuster—it’s a day in Greg Malley’s 6th grade science class.

“In our biology unit, we learn about three types of animal adaptations—structural, behavioral, and physiological,” explains Malley. “I wanted to give students a chance to showcase their learning and apply new vocabulary through a creative, hands-on project.”

Using Carroll’s makerspace in the Arts & Innovation Center, the class got to work designing 3D-printed organisms with unique adaptations and crafting shoebox ecosystems for them to live in.

By incorporating its makerspace and inquiry-based learning approach, Carroll educators encourage students to explore, experiment, and engage deeply in subject matter—fostering creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Let’s see how it went …

Elsa DiGiusto

Organism name: Spickatrus

Tell us a bit about your organism.

I was really interested in how chameleons can camouflage. I wanted to create an organism that could blend in too, and for some reason, I thought of a cactus. Then I started thinking about how it could avoid predators. I decided it should have two heads, with one always staying awake to keep watch.

What was the design process like?

We started by describing our organism—its name and its structural, behavioral, and physiological adaptations. We also sketched out our ideas for our organism before heading to the Fab Lab. For my ecosystem, I imagined my organism living on Venus. I wanted it to be bright, so I made mountains, bamboo, and mushrooms using the 3D printer, which took a lot of trial and error. I colored the bamboo with markers and covered the mountains with clay. 

What did you like about this project?

I love art and being creative, so designing the ecosystem was definitely my favorite part. I’m also really interested in earth science—why the Earth is the way it is. I like how Mr. Malley teaches because he lets us be really creative.

Alex Dunn

Organism name: Nerazea

Tell us a bit about your organism.

My organism is a crocodile that got mutated by radio waves and UV rays. Now, it’s a flying crocodile with fangs, lion claws, and a ginormous brain. It lives in a swamp and uses its rock-hard head to knock fruit off trees.

What was the design process like?

I spent two days in the Fab Lab. At first, my organism wouldn’t print, which was frustrating. Then we realized I had accidentally duplicated the image inside itself.

After that, I worked on my ecosystem. I built a swamp with lots of trees. At first, I used tape to hold them up, but they kept falling over. So I grabbed real sticks from outside and used those for support. If I had more time, I would have added even more natural materials—sticks, rocks—to make it look more realistic.

I learned a lot about making mistakes and how to keep trying.

What did you like about the project?

Definitely seeing the final product—especially my animal. I love how it turned out, and I liked that I got to use my imagination. The hardest part was the writing. Writing can be tough.

Read the full issue here: Carroll Connection 2025-2026