Slices Through 3D Objects

Carol Ormand, SERC at Carleton College
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Summary

In this exercise, students identify and draw slices through an ice cream cone, a pyramid, and a beverage six-pack.

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Learning Goals

This exercise is intended to provide a little bit of practice in identifying and sketching slices through 3D objects.

Context for Use

This exercise is designed to be used early on in a course that requires a lot of mental slicing (imagining cross-sections through sedimentary deposits or deformed rocks, for example). It may be most useful as a diagnostic tool, to discover which students will struggle to draw cross-sectional diagrams.

Description and Teaching Materials


In this exercise, students identify and draw slices through an ice cream cone, a pyramid, and a beverage six-pack.

Slices through 3D objects (Microsoft Word 293kB May19 15)

Teaching Notes and Tips


I would use this exercise primarily as a diagnostic tool, to see whether drawing cross-sectional diagrams will be challenging for students in a class that will require visualizing slices through 3D objects.

Assessment

A quick look at student sketches is sufficient to assess their ability to draw simple cross-sectional diagrams through familiar objects.