Egg

What could be simpler or more geometrically basic than the shape of an egg? That's why the first session of my 3D modeling classes always includes the assignment of designing an egg exactly like this one. It only takes from 5 to 30 minutes when they follow the steps shown in this [Inventor Studios Tinkercad tutorial](http://youtu.be/LGAeNS-JE54). So new students walk out of their first 3D class having completed their first model, which I then print and hand back to them when they return for the second session.

"Japanese Erasers" have been very popular with kids for a several years, as have keychains that hang in bunches on the outside of backpacks. I find both, though the erasers in particular, to be excellent 3D learning tools. When taken apart they're reduced to basic 3D shapes that can be modeled on the computer then reconstructed as 3D printed objects, which are wonderful keepsakes of their introductory modeling class.

I consider joinery to be an important early ski