Instructor Notes — Week 3

Theme: Holes & Negative Space
Focus Concept: Cutting shapes away to create stamps and cut-outs
Mini-Project: Simple Stamp / Cutter

Learning Objectives

  • Use hole shapes to remove material from solids.
  • Understand negative space as the “empty shape” that appears.
  • Design a simple stamp or cutter with a clear, recognisable motif.

Session Flow (≈ 80 min)

Segment Time Focus
Recap & intro 10 Week 1–2 tools; introduce holes & cut-outs
Tool demo 10 Turn shapes into holes, group to cut
Guided build 25 Create a basic stamp / cutter
Independent make 25 Personal motifs and extra details
Share & tidy 10 Show designs; discuss clarity and strength

Part A — Demo: From Solid to Stamp

  • Start with a simple box as a “stamp base”.
  • Add a letter or symbol shape on top and convert it to a hole.
  • Group the base and hole to show the cut-out.
  • Orbit around so everyone can see that the shape is now missing material, not just coloured differently.

Emphasise that holes only cut when grouped with solids.

Part B — Guided Build: Basic Stamp / Cutter

Suggested sequence:

  1. Base: flat box, sized sensibly.
  2. Motif: a simple letter, digit, or icon placed on top.
  3. Convert motif to hole; adjust depth if needed.
  4. Group base + hole; check from several angles.

Discuss which motifs work best: simple, bold shapes rather than tiny details.

Part C — Independent Make & Extend

  • Learners design their own stamp: initials, logo, or simple picture.
  • Extensions may include:
    • A handle on the back.
    • A border or frame.
    • Two-part sets (e.g. a pair of stamps that go together).

Vocabulary for This Week

  • Hole — a shape that removes material when grouped with a solid.
  • Negative Space — the empty shape left behind after cutting.
  • Clearance — enough space around details so they show clearly.

Instructor Tips

  • Encourage simplicity: bold shapes work far better than intricate patterns for young makers.
  • Rotate models during discussions so pupils develop a strong 3D sense of the cut-outs.
  • Link to real-world examples: cookie cutters, rubber stamps, embossing tools.

Assessment & Reflection

Look for:

  • Appropriate use of hole vs solid.
  • Grouped models where the cut-out makes sense visually.
  • An ability to talk about why some designs are clearer than others.

Prompt: “If we printed this, would the picture be easy to see? Why or why not?”

Common Misconceptions & Fixes

Misconception Clarification / Strategy
“Changing colour makes a hole” Holes are a specific setting; show the striped appearance.
Forgetting to group after creating holes Remind: hole + solid + group = cut-out.
Overcrowded designs with tiny cut-outs Encourage larger shapes and fewer details.

Differentiation

  • Beginners:
    • Choose from pre-made motif shapes (heart, star, single letter).
    • Focus on one clear cut-out only.
  • Confident learners:
    • Combine two or more motifs (e.g. letter and symbol).
    • Experiment with different depths of cut and layered stamps.
Subject Connection
Computing Creating and editing 3D digital content.
Maths Thinking about scale, depth and spacing.
Art & Design Positive vs negative space in imagery.
D&T Real-world tools (stamps, cutters) and how they’re used.

KS2 Curriculum Mapping

Strand Evidence in Session
Computing — Creating Media (3D) Designing 3D artefacts with cut-outs.
D&T — Design Designing for a visual effect (clear motif).
D&T — Make Using tools to shape and join (group) digital parts.
D&T — Evaluate Comparing clarity and robustness of different designs.

Materials & Setup

  • Laptops / Chromebooks with internet and Tinkercad accounts.
  • Mouse per device.
  • Optionally: physical examples of stamps/cutters to show.

Safety & Safeguarding

  • If any objects are eventually printed, ensure they are not small enough to be choking hazards.
  • Avoid designs that imitate harmful or unsafe tools.