Good morning Year 5,
Today you will be trying: Sketch Up! This is a software that designs 3D models.
First, please ask an adult to create a login for Sketch Up. There is a free 30 day trial and no credit card details need to be registered in order for you to ‘TRY’ Sketch Up! I did it myself and it took me two minutes and the only details I had to share was my name and email address. Please ensure an adult creates a log in for you so you can log in to begin. Once you are in, go to ‘Try Sketchup’ and ‘Start Modelling’ and you should see this on your screen:
Watch: the Google SketchUp Forest Home Speed Build video for a tutorial (Note: it’s 6 mins long – so you may wish to just play a section for the general idea).
How would designing like this help an architect/house builder? What could you do with this design that you could not do with a design on paper? Have a think about it…
Once you have opened up SketchUp Make, notice that there is a ‘woman’ standing on the axis.
Try the ‘zoom’ tool and the ‘orbit’ tools to move around.
When you select a tool a small preview window appears at the bottom right of the screen. This will show how that selected tool functions.
You can use these tools to move around the SketchUp environment. (By dragging the mouse we can zoom in and out of the axis. The Orbit tool enables us to move around the axis).
You could create a simple box in the SketchUp environment by using the draw option in the top tool bar and selecting ‘shapes’, ‘rectangle’.
You can use the push/pull tool to stretch the rectangle up into a solid 3D shape. Try it!
You can add colour to sections using the ‘colours’ tool:
You could design your own modern sculpture for the playground or local park. The base will be a white rectangle and then you can use the ‘cube/cuboid’ tool to pull and push different shapes out from the white cube to create their sculpture.
Have a look at some of the Sketch Up House designs:
Challenge: If you are feeling confident, you could have a go designing a dream house! You might need to quickly design it on paper first before you ‘realise it’ using the 3D software.
Using same tools as previous lesson (the rectangle tool and the push/pull tools), you can create a basic house (box) shape.
Then add a roof. Use the orbit tool so you are viewing the box from above and select from the ‘Draw’ tool option ‘Line’.
Use the line tool to draw straight across the house shape from blue mid point to blue mid point.
NB the line will be red if correctly placed mid point to mid point.
You can raise this line up into a roof shape by using the ‘move’ tool to stretch the line upwards to form a roof.
Use the orbit tool again to return to view the house from the side.
You can add windows and doors by inserting rectangles on the front and side faces, filling rectangles with appropriate textures. (There is glass and transparent textures in the materials set. Glass will create a view through the house!) You can even ‘remove’ a wall so you can view the inside of you house and then move on to design the inside, selecting from the ‘materials’ drop down suitable wall and floor coverings.
You can even add details such as a swimming pool or garden features by experimenting with the different tool options!
Please send us your designs via the Homework Uploader for the attention of Miss Carruthers.
Most importantly, have fun!
Mrs Avdiu xx
printer-friendly version: Thursday Computing blog Y5
Sebastiao’s design
Erin’s design
Regan’s
Regan’s
Regan’s
Regan and Erin’s dad’s real life models.
Zavan’s design
Good morning Miss Carruthers, when I tried to make an account for sketch up, it said, ‘Is your school enrolled in Google’s G Suite for Education or Microsoft Education?,’ and when I pressed I don’t know and then next, the page just reloaded.
Do you know if St. Vincent’s is enrolled in Google’s G Suite for Education or Microsoft Education? If you do please could you tell me.
Thank you
Hi Zavan. I just came on to see if anyone was having problems with the computing task that I set. No you don’t need to select that we are enrolled for this. Please ask an adult at home to sign up for you. It’s really easy and you just select ‘No’ instead of ‘I don’t know’ and open it for a free trial for personal use. We don’t have an account as far as I know but I didn’t need one to sign up and play with the programme! Enjoy
Hi,
My mum is an architect so she uses this software all the time!
A few years ago my mum taught me how to use it and I have made a lot of projects since then!
Sebastiao
Oh wow! It’s so good to be able to use the software that real architects use! I’m sure you’ll be able to create something amazing! 🙂
Hi everyone,
Our dad is an architect too and he has taught us nothing!?
Erin and I are using this software for the first time today. It is quite tricky but fun.
Haha! I’m sure your dad has taught you many things! 🙂
Maybe today you can design an amazing house, he might be able to give you some good tips!
Hello miss, I have been having the same problem as Zavan and when I select no it just makes me do it again and again. Can anyone help me?
Oh how strange. Zavan, did you manage to sort it?
Is there a button that says something about a free trial? Try clicking that.
Zavan,
On the website where you choose the uses for SketchUp, try clicking “Personal” instead of “Primary and Secondary”, that worked for me.
Sebastiao
Thanks Sebastiao! 🙂
Elsa – this might help you too
Hello Miss Carruthers,
I sent an image of my model via the homework ? uploader.?
I have really enjoyed creating my sketch up model as I do not do much computing. My model is of a house and on the top is a swimming pool with one diving board and on the left is a patch of grass for people to play on. I have really enjoyed this task and I cannot wait for our next computing task! ???
I’m glad you enjoyed it so much Erin. Thank you for sharing your work and then describing it for us here 🙂
Hi Miss,
I am about upload my work – I have really enjoyed this task.
My dad is in his office today and I called him to tell him what we were doing and he thought it was great. He also sent me a photo of one the amazing real models in their offices and he thought we might like to share it with everyone to show that they still make real models of buildings as well as computer ones.
Oh that’s amazing Regan. Thank you for sharing, and please thank your dad as well. I’m sure he’ll be excited to see what you have both designed when he is back home.
Hi Seb,
I have just seen your design and it is absolutely amazing!
You are so good at using this software.?
That’s so encouraging of you, Regan!
Hi
Can someone help me because I can not enter the Sketch Up, me and my mum have tried everything and it is not working
Hi (again)
It is okay me and my mum have found the way !!
Well done! That didn’t take long! I’m glad you solved it 🙂
Hello everyone I am about to send in my house on the homework uploader. I agree with Regan, Sebastiao’s design looks really good. ?
We couldn’t loG onto it either same problem as Zavan.
Did you read the solution in the comments? I hope you managed solve it!
Hi,
I REALLY LOVE all of your designs they are so cool!
Have a great weekend!!! ???