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Lesson 4 of 8
  • Year 5

Compound 3D shapes

I can create hollow compound 3D shapes in Tinkercad.

Lesson 4 of 8
New
New
  • Year 5

Compound 3D shapes

I can create hollow compound 3D shapes in Tinkercad.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A compound shape is a shape that has been combined with another shape.
  2. 3D shapes can be grouped to make compound shapes.
  3. Hole shapes are used to create holes and hollows in solid shapes.
  4. Compound shapes can be hollowed out.
  5. A duplicate of a shape can be created by using copy/paste, duplicate or ctrl + c/ctrl + v.

Keywords

  • Solid shapes - 3D shapes used in Tinkercad

  • Hole shapes - 3D shapes used in Tinkercad to create holes

  • Group - a tool used to combine shapes into a single shape

  • Compound shapes - created by combining two or more shapes

Common misconception

Every shape must be moved on its own once on the workplane, so it is better to not make changes.

By grouping shapes that designers are happy with together, it makes it easier to move, rotate or scale them and make changes to the design.


To help you plan your year 5 design and technology lesson on: Compound 3D shapes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Step-by-step instructions can also be found in the 'Getting started' tutorial. A Tinkercad classroom can be set up for each class with prepared designs.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Access to Tinkercad on tablet, chromebook or laptop.

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.
What does “3-dimensional” mean?

Having only length
Having length and height
Correct answer: Having length, width, and height
Having only height and width

Q2.
Which of the following is a 3D shape?

Square
Correct answer: Cube
Circle
Triangle

Q3.
Which of the following best describes the use of Tinkercad?

Coding video games
Designing 2D animations
Correct answer: Creating 3D models and simulations
Writing essays

Q4.
What is the main purpose of the ViewCube in Tinkercad?

To colour shapes
To zoom in on your model
Correct answer: To change your view of the 3D workspace
To group shapes

Q5.
What does "translating" a shape mean in 3D design?

Correct answer: Moving the shape to a different location
Spinning the shape around
Making the shape transparent
Changing the shape’s colour

Q6.
If you scale a shape in Tinkercad, what are you doing?

Correct answer: Changing the object's size
Spinning the object around
Moving the object to a new location
Duplicating the object

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
What is a compound shape?

A shape that is invisible
Correct answer: A shape made by combining two or more simple shapes
A shape with no corners
A shape that changes colour

Q2.
In Tinkercad, what does the "Group" function do?

Correct answer: Joins selected shapes into one compound shape
Changes shapes into 2D
Deletes all selected shapes
Separates shapes into parts

Q3.
If you want to make a hole in a solid shape in Tinkercad, what should you do?

Change its colour to white
Use the mirror tool
Drag the shape off the workplane
Correct answer: Use another shape and set it to "Hole"

Q4.
Which Tinkercad tool would you use to separate compound shapes?

undo
home
group
Correct answer: ungroup