[This is a back issue of this site’s newsletter]
Design and make your own paper polyhedra with the help of the applet on this page Today is the sixth birthday of Dr Mike’s Math Games for Kids, and the polyhedral nets software I mentioned last newsletter is now done!
Visit the page, and scroll down to the applet. There are two versions, a “signed version” that can print nets and save them to your disk, and an “unsigned version” that can’t save them, but might still be able to print them. There’s also a video showing how to use the applet.
The things you can do include
- Create a polyhedron with regular faces, and see it in 3D as you progress
- Make a link to your polyhedron, and share the link via email, or on facebook, your website, your blog, twitter, Google+ and so on
- Save a picture of the polyhedron (“signed” version only)
- Save the net itself onto your hard disk, or load up previously saved polyhedra (“signed” version only)
- Print the net out onto cardboard, ready to fold it up (“signed’ version yes, “unsigned” version maybe)
Polyhedrons are right up my alley, math-wise – my PhD research was on polyhedra and their higher-dimensional analogues. It’s a bit strange, therefore, that this math games website has been running for six years with no polyhedral nets! I think it’s because I didn’t want to make “just another” polyhedral nets page. I think you’ll agree, when you see the software, that I’ve managed to go beyond the norm.
I’ll post a blog post soon with a couple of ideas on how to use this applet at home or in a classroom.
In other news – I’ll be in Mountain View, California, on the 12th of September – terribly, terribly jetlagged, but otherwise free, so… attention any interested Mountain View teachers : I know it’s short notice, but I’d be happy to drop by sometime that day – ether to get the kids hands-on with some polyhedra or mathemagical tricks, or to discuss ideas for helping kids enjoy math more, or just for a casual “hello”. Interested? Quickly hit “reply” and let’s get it all organized!
Yours,
Michael Hartley (Dr Mike)