Choose exam board for KS4 Computer Science (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 English
Choose exam board for KS4 French
Choose exam board for KS4 Geography
Choose exam board for KS4 German
Choose exam board for KS4 History
Choose tier for KS4 Maths
Choose exam board for KS4 Music
Choose exam board for KS4 Physical education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Religious education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Spanish

      Representing 3D shapes in 2D

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can use isometric paper to draw a solid made from cuboids.

      Key learning points

      1. Isometric paper aids the drawing of a solid constructed from cubes.
      2. The drawing will look 3D.
      3. The final picture has three distinct viewpoints.

      Keywords

      • Isometric paper - Isometric means distances between points stay the same. In this lesson we use isometric paper which has equally spaced dots or points.

      • Solid - A solid is a shape that has three dimensions (e.g. width, height and depth).

      Common misconception

      Pupils count all the triangles in a row to determine length rather than only counting the ones which have an edge on the line.

      Encourage pupils to consider what they are using to measure when they draw each line on isometric paper.

      Teacher tip

      This lesson requires pupils to have access to isometric paper. The lesson uses paper which has triangles rather than dots but either can be used.

      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

      Loading...

      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      If one shape can fit exactly on top of another using rotation, reflection or translation, then the shapes are __________.

      Correct Answer: congruent

      Q2.
      What is the length of BC?

      An image in a quiz
      11 cm
      Correct answer: 18 cm
      20 cm

      Q3.
      The image is a 2D representation of a 3D shape. What is the shape?

      An image in a quiz
      cube
      cuboid
      cone
      Correct answer: cylinder
      sphere

      Q4.
      The image is a 2D representation of a 3D shape. What is the shape?

      An image in a quiz
      cube
      cuboid
      Correct answer: cone
      cylinder
      sphere

      Q5.
      The image is a 2D representation of a 3D shape. The shape is a .

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: cuboid, rectangular prism, square prism

      Q6.
      Jacob has got his pair of compasses ready to draw a circle. Which statements will be true?

      An image in a quiz
      The radius will be 4 cm.
      Correct answer: The radius will be 8 cm.
      The radius will be 16 cm.
      The diameter will be 8 cm.
      Correct answer: The diameter will be 16 cm.

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      paper contains dots or points which are all equally spaced, such as in the diagram.

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: isometric

      Q2.
      The image shows a photograph and an isometric drawing of a pencil sharpener. The value of $$a$$ is .

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 1, one, 1 cm

      Q3.
      The image shows a photograph and an isometric drawing of a pencil sharpener. The value of $$c$$ is .

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 2, two, 2 cm

      Q4.
      The image shows a solid that is constructed with two congruent cuboids and an isometric drawing of the solid. The value of $$a$$ is .

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 2, two, 2 cm

      Q5.
      The image shows a solid that is constructed with two congruent cuboids and an isometric drawing of the solid. The value of $$d$$ is .

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 3, three, 3 cm

      Q6.
      Which isometric drawing shows a cuboid with lengths 2 units, 3 units and 5 units?

      An image in a quiz
      a
      b
      c
      Correct answer: d

      To help you plan your 10 maths lesson on: Representing 3D shapes in 2D, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...