Isometric Shape Draw
March 18th, 2008 · 6 Comments
Use this teaching resource to demonstrate the representation of 3D shapes using isometric paper.
The top half of the screen displays a variety of shapes that can be rotated.
The bottom half of the screen contains an interactive isometric grid. Clicking on one dot and then another connects them with a red line. Clicking on the line removes it. The rotating shapes include use of perspective demonstrating that the isometric drawing is only a representation of the 3D shape.
Update: There was a bug in this where constant rotations knocked the shapes out of isometric perspective. This is now fixed.
Go to learning resource.
An alternative isometric shape teaching resource.
For a full screen isometric grid use this resource.
Tags: Shape Space and Measure
6 responses so far ↓
1 Miss T // May 1, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Absolutely fabulous. Love the rotational function really helps pupil visualise the shape and draw it accurately. Well done!!
2 patricia // May 22, 2008 at 12:45 pm
My Year 8 pupils loved tying to draw 3D shapes and it has really improved their confidence. I am dying to see more resources from you. A HUGE thank you!
3 Chris // Jul 2, 2008 at 11:34 am
Very good, but not so sure about using the elastic tween for rotation.
4 admin // Jul 2, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Interesting you say that about the elastic tween. (for those who don’t know, thats the overshoot effect when you click rotate). Originally it was without this and rotated plainly. The elasticity, to my mind, added a sense of weight or solidity to the shapes, emphasising the representation of a 3d shape. Could you add more as to why you dislike it - I’m always open to adjusting the resources to suit the users.
5 Chris // Jul 2, 2008 at 3:58 pm
My preference would be for a more dynamic rotation. It looks as though you are using a well-known 3D engine, so this should be possible without tweening. Also, if you use a full rotation, then the sense of solidity should come automatically.
6 admin // Jul 2, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I see what you mean now. You are right that I could have a dynamic rotation as you are also right thats its rendered in Papervision. Really, using a 3d engine is over engineering it a bit as a prerecorded rotation sequence would do the job.
The reason it’s not dynamic is to lock the shapes to a roughly isometric perspective so that teachers at the front of the class only have to tap the IWB once to spin it to a new isometric perspective. By allowing free positioning it adds a level of control that I felt isn’t necessary for this particular subject as the shapes need to always be at the correct angle for the isometric drawings.
Anymore thoughts would be welcome and thanks for leaving your site’s url, I’m sure many visitors here will recognise it.
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