Week 3 — Holes & Negative Space

Focus Concept: Cutting shapes using holes
Mini-Project: Simple Stamp / Cutter

Connections to STEAM Learning

  • Computing: Using “add” and “remove” operations to change 3D geometry.
  • Design & Technology: Designing a simple stamp or cutter with a clear motif.
  • Maths: Thinking about depth and size of cut‑outs.
  • Art & Design: Creating icons, logos or patterns using negative space.
  • Engineering: Considering wall thickness and avoiding weak points around cut‑outs.

This week’s session focuses on holes and negative space. Participants learn how to turn shapes into holes and use them to cut letters or symbols out of a solid object, creating a simple stamp or “cutter”.

Objectives

  • Turn normal shapes into holes and use them to remove material.
  • Design a simple stamp or cutter that has a clear, recognisable cut‑out.
  • Think about thickness so the design is strong enough for printing.

Success Criteria

  • I can use hole shapes to cut out parts of another shape.
  • I can create a design where the cut‑out is easy to see and understand.
  • I can avoid making walls or details so thin that they might break.

Key Vocabulary

  • Hole — a shape in Tinkercad that removes material when grouped with a solid.
  • Negative Space — the empty space that makes a shape (e.g. the gap that forms a letter).
  • Clearance — the space left around a detail so it prints or stands out clearly.

Part A — Explore Hole Tool

  • Show how to select a shape and mark it as a hole.
  • Demonstrate grouping a solid and a hole to create a cut‑out.
  • Let participants practise cutting simple shapes (e.g. star or letter) from a box.

Part B — Make: Stamp / Cutter

  • Ask learners to choose a simple motif: a letter, number, or simple icon.
  • Build a base plate and use hole shapes to cut the motif from the surface.
  • Encourage them to check from multiple angles that the cut‑out is clear.

Part C — Extend & Share

  • Add a handle or extra border to make the stamp easier to hold.
  • Share designs and ask: “What does your stamp show? How did you make it stand out?”

Resources

Equipment

  • Laptops / Chromebooks with internet
  • Mouse for each device

Safety & Setup Notes

  • If you are planning to print, remind learners that deep, narrow holes can trap support material or be hard to clean.
  • Encourage them to keep the model footprint reasonable so it prints in a sensible time.