Activity 2.3: Engineering Notation
Practice Problems

Activity Description

Using the drawing flashcard set, students will construct the image with the wooden blocks that is shown on the card. They will then create the 3-view drawing using the correct engineering notation and can check their drawing using the back of the flashcard.

Getting Started

Introduction:

E.Q.: How can we represent more complex 3-D structures in 2 dimensions?

Preparation Needed for the Activity:

Wooden Cubes (7 per student)
Drawing Flash Cards

Part 1 - Review: 10-15 min

Review the 3-view engineering notation. Note that shading can still be used as a transition step—if the students are uncomfortable with the engineering notation, they can draw the shaded version first to help them identify the changes of plane and then proceed to the engineering notation.
Ask the class the following questions:
- Does 3-view drawing give complete information? For example, if I took a bite out of the back of a cube, would you be able to represent it?
  - Answer: Yes, if done correctly.
- How many views are there?
  - Answer: 6
- Why?
  - Answer: The cube has 6 faces.

Part 2 - 3 cubes, the other views: 15 min

Set up the 3 cube structure as they used in the previous activity. Figure 1 is the isometric view again for your reference.

Three-dimensional perspective of three connected cubes. The first cube is labeled front on the front side and right on the right side.The second cube is connected to the left side of the first cube. The last cube is on top of the first cube. The top of the last cube is labeled top.

Figure 1

Two-dimensional perspective of three connected cubes. From the bottom perspective, two squares are side by side, and there is a vertical dashed line in the middle. From the back perspective, there are three squares forming an L shape. From the left perspective, there are two squares, one stacked on top of the other.

Figure 2

Engineering notation

Students should draw (in no particular order or orientation) the left, bottom, and back using engineering notation.

Part 3 - Individual Problem Solving: 40 min

Note: Please complete these parts in order using the the respective figures.

Three-dimensional perspective of seven connected cubes. There's fours on the bottom stacked next to each other forming a square. On top of the four cubes, there's three cubes forming an L shape. There are labels including front, top, and right.

Figure 3

Use the large class blocks and set up an incomplete cube using 7 blocks as shown in Figure 3.

Two-dimensional perspective of three connected cubes. From the top and right perspectives, there are four squares next to each other forming a larger square. The square in the top right corner is blank, and the other squares are shaded. From the front perspective, there are four blank squares forming a larger square.

Figure 4

Instruct students to set the same configuration up using their own cubes.
Students should draw the 3 view of this configuration using engineering notation in their notebooks. They may draw the shaded version first as a way to transition to the engineering notation correctly. Both version are shown below.
Shaded (transition step)

Two-dimensional perspective of three connected cubes. From the front perspective, a dashed line runs from the middle of the top of the square to the middle of the right of the square forming a smaller square in the right left corner of the larger square. From the top and right perspective, a solid line runs from the middle of the top of the square to the middle of the right of the square forming a smaller square in the top right corner of the larger square.

Figure 5

Solution (Engineering notation)

Supplemental question: What would the left view look like using engineering notation? (see Figure 6)

Two-dimensional left perspective of three connected cubes. A dashed line runs from the middle of the top of the square to the middle of the left of the square forming a smaller square in the top left corner of the larger square.

Figure 6

For differentiated practice, use the supplied flash cards to allow students to work individually or in groups to self-check at different levels of difficulty. The cards with the green dot are easiest, yellow is medium, and red is challenging. Students can assemble the structure shown on the grid side of the card. The 3-view solution is drawn on the back. Students can also assemble structures from the 3-view drawings.

Part 4 - Reflection: 10 min

Students should reflect on what they’ve learned about the sketching conventions.

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