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Lesson 3 of 8
  • Year 7

Modelling and assembling complex shapes in Tinkercad

I can model and assemble complex shapes in Tinkercad.

Lesson 3 of 8
New
New
  • Year 7

Modelling and assembling complex shapes in Tinkercad

I can model and assemble complex shapes in Tinkercad.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. You can use Group, Ungroup, Align, and Duplicate tools to build complex shapes in Tinkercad.
  2. The Scribble and Sketch tools are used to create and edit custom shapes.
  3. Robots are machines that can do tasks; they can sense, think, and act.
  4. Robots are often used for repetitive, hard or dangerous jobs.

Keywords

  • Group - join two or more shapes together to make one shape

  • Sketch - a drawing made up of straight or curved lines

  • Robot - a machine that can sense, think, and do tasks with some autonomy

  • Duplicate - make a copy of a shape and repeat its movement

Common misconception

Robots will take all human jobs in the future.

Robots can sometimes replace people in certain jobs, especially when the work is dangerous, boring, or very hard for humans to do. People will still be needed to design, build and program robots.


To help you plan your year 7 design and technology lesson on: Modelling and assembling complex shapes in Tinkercad, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Give pupils time to develop their sketching skills in Tinkercad.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Computers/laptops, mice, access to Tinkercad.

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.
In Tinkercad, what is seen on the screen and is interacted with by using the mouse and keyboard?

Correct answer: workspace
workplane
work area
work base

Q2.
Match the mouse button with the Tinkercad function.

Correct Answer:left,used to select and move objects

used to select and move objects

Correct Answer:right,used to orbit

used to orbit

Correct Answer:middle,used to zoom in and out

used to zoom in and out

Correct Answer:right + shift,used to pan

used to pan

Q3.
What are the white squares that appear around a shape when it is selected called?

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: handles

Q4.
What happens when you click and drag the black cone above a shape?

the shape gets taller
the shape rotates
Correct answer: the shape moves off the workplane
the shape becomes a hole

Q5.
What appears if you click the rotation handles that appear around a shape when selected?

An image in a quiz
a ruler
Correct answer: a protractor
a new workplane
axis labels

Q6.
What are the axes called that shapes are rotated around in Tinkercad?

a, b and c
Correct answer: x, y and z
1, 2 and 3
length, width and height
Q3 Tinkercad/Autodesk screen shots reprinted courtesy of Autodesk, Inc. Q5 Tinkercad/Autodesk screen shots reprinted courtesy of Autodesk, Inc.

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
To combine shapes in Tinkercad we use ...

join.
Correct answer: group.
merge.
mate.

Q2.
To line up shapes accurately in Tinkercad, which tool is used?

Correct answer: align
line up
duplicate
meaasure

Q3.
What is a bevel?

Correct answer: a sloped edge
a round edge
a type of hole
a multicoloured shape

Q4.
What does the scribble tool allow users to do?

Correct answer: create custom shapes
create accurate shapes
create multicoloured shapes
create grouped shapes

Q5.
Identify the characteristics of a robot

Correct answer: sense
walk
Correct answer: process
Correct answer: act with autonomy
learn

Q6.
Why do the military use robots for explosive removal?

they are better at it than humans
Correct answer: so people don't have to risk their lives
they can't be damaged
Correct answer: they can be operated from safe distances