New
New
Year 5

Shape and line tools

I can recognise vector drawings and use shape and line tools

New
New
Year 5

Shape and line tools

I can recognise vector drawings and use shape and line tools

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Vector drawings are made up of shapes.
  2. Shapes can be drawn with line and shape tools.
  3. Vector drawings are different to paper-based drawings.

Keywords

  • Vector - a type of computer image made up of shapes, lines and curves

  • Shape - a flat object like a square or circle that you can use to build a picture

  • Tool - something you click to help you draw, move, or change parts of your picture

Common misconception

Vector drawings are the same as paper-based drawings.

Vector drawings are made up of shapes layered together, not single lines drawn.


To help you plan your year 5 computing lesson on: Shape and line tools, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Model the use of shape and line tools slowly and clearly, as even confident pupils may need time to master accurate dragging and placement.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Pupils will need access to a device with drawing software. Examples in this lesson use Google Drawings https://oak.link/google-drawings

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Where might you have seen digital images in real life?

Correct answer: in a computer game
in a handwritten note
in a printed book
on a classroom display board

Q2.
What is a computer graphic?

a type of computer game
Correct answer: a visual image created using a computer
a program for writing text
a computer virus

Q3.
Which of these is an example of a computer graphic?

a handwritten letter
a drawing made on paper
Correct answer: a digital drawing created on a computer
a printed book

Q4.
What shapes might be used to create a computer graphic?

Correct answer: circles, squares and triangles
letters and numbers
words and sentences
none of the above

Q5.
How can you save a computer graphic?

Correct answer: by clicking "Save" in the computer program
by printing it out
by drawing it on paper
by closing the program without saving

Q6.
Arrange these in the correct order to create a basic computer graphic:

1 - Open a graphics program.
2 - Select a shape tool.
3 - Draw a shape.
4 - Save the file.

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What is a vector drawing made up of?

Correct answer: shapes
words
photos
colours

Q2.
Which tool would you use to draw a straight line in a vector drawing?

shape tool
Correct answer: line tool
eraser tool
colour picker

Q3.
How are vector drawings different from paper-based drawings?

Vector drawings are always colourful.
Paper-based drawings are made on a computer.
Paper-based drawings are made of pixels.
Correct answer: Vector drawings use shapes that can be resized.

Q4.
What is a shape in the context of vector drawings?

a tool for drawing lines
a type of colour
Correct answer: a flat object like a square or circle
a file format

Q5.
Match the action to its purpose:

Correct Answer:using the shape tool,creating a circle or square

creating a circle or square

Correct Answer:using the line tool,drawing a straight line

drawing a straight line

Correct Answer:saving the drawing,keeping your work for later use

keeping your work for later use

Q6.
How are vector drawings different from paper-based drawings?

Correct answer: Vector drawings are made up of shapes layered together.
Paper-based drawings are made using a computer.
Vector drawings are drawn with pencils and pens.
Paper-based drawings can be resized without losing quality.