Can you debug these 3D shapes?
Colourful 3D shapes
Colourful 3D shapes
How does this align with my curriculum?
Using cubes, build a 3D shape based off of pictures taken from different perspectives.
Setting:
Indoors
Time:
20 minutes
Skills:
Debugging
Ages:
5+
Materials:
- Cubes: snap blocks, made out of paper or use this online tool
- Optional: Paper, glue and tape
- Handout
What to do!
- Use the online tool, snap blocks or create paper cubes using the cube template provided.
- Starting with three cubes, look at the three different perspectives on the handout.
- Put the blocks together so that when looking at the 3D shape from the different perspectives it looks like the picture.
- Once you solve the problem with three blocks move on to the four block problem etc.
- Look at the solution page to check your answer.
During the activity, you may have tried formations that did not work the way you expected. These errors are called ‘bugs’ in computer programming. When you adjusted your formation to correct the error you were debugging. Debugging is when you find and correct bugs. Bugs in a computer program could be due to syntax errors (e.g. spelling mistakes) or logic errors.
As technology advances, it is more important than ever that you are prepared to contribute to the digital world. Building your computational thinking skills, such as debugging, and strengthening your understanding of computational thinking concepts, will help you to prepare for the future.
- Solve the problem backwards! Start by making a block shape and see if you can draw a picture for the top view, front view and side view.
- Create your own block shape and draw the perspectives. See if someone else can solve your problem.
What’s happening?
During the activity, you may have tried formations that did not work the way you expected. These errors are called ‘bugs’ in computer programming. When you adjusted your formation to correct the error you were debugging. Debugging is when you find and correct bugs. Bugs in a computer program could be due to syntax errors (e.g. spelling mistakes) or logic errors.
Why does it matter?
As technology advances, it is more important than ever that you are prepared to contribute to the digital world. Building your computational thinking skills, such as debugging, and strengthening your understanding of computational thinking concepts, will help you to prepare for the future.
Investigate further!
- Solve the problem backwards! Start by making a block shape and see if you can draw a picture for the top view, front view and side view.
- Create your own block shape and draw the perspectives. See if someone else can solve your problem.