Folded Polyhedra

Author(s): Cecily Nevill

Source: Mathematics in School, Vol. 25, No. 4 (Sep., 1996), pp. 36-44
Published by: The Mathematical Association
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30216586 .
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 Glueless models were featured in the traditional article on
Calendar Models last September. Like Frank Tapson, I was
greatly indebted to James Brunton, then of Redland College,
Bristol, who ran a course for Maths teachers at which the
instructions were given verbally with the demonstrations.
Subsequently I wanted to make the material accessible to
the Primary age range. Some difficulties to be overcome
were:-

(1) With mixed ability classes only a small group of them

are ready for an exercise at any one time.
(2) The teacher cannot give undivided attention.
(3) Remembering that the teachers are not specialists, the
instructions must be easy, explicit and comprehensive and,
as far as possible, readable by the children after help.
(4) That the diagrams are the actual size to be used by the
pupils, on the kind of paper available.
(5) That originally schools did not have photocopiers and
now have to save the cost.
(6) That there must be a graded development with enough
related but different models to be made.
(7) This requires that the requisite mathematical skills and
manual dexterity are steadily built up over a period of time,
e.g. ruling lines, accurate cutting out, folding, copying from
a diagram, comprehending instructions.

One gain from the lack of photocopies is that of co-ordinates

in the transferring of the net.
In trying to establish such a development I have found
that models which hold together by interlocking are most
useful and enjoyable as sticking together a model often
results in a disappointing, botched job. I enclose worksheets
on this topic which I have used in teaching from Year 3
onwards.
Primary school children would not be allowed to "score
with knife". If fold lines are ruled with a fine Ballpoint, a
dry one will do, all but heavy card will fold neatly.

Further Notes on Models 6, 7 and 8

These two models require equilateral triangles larger than
those on the usual commercial paper. Suitable paper can be
produced on cm squared paper on which a grid has been
drawn, first of triangles with base 8 cm and height 7 cm and
then subdivided into those with 4 cm and 3.5 cm
respectively, which fortuitously fits A4 paper and produces
a sufficiently good approximation. (And, for older pupils, an
application of Pythagoras' Theorem)
This is also used in Model 8. Other models include solids
FOLDED with regular faces: squares, triangles and hexagons, which I
have used with Years 5 and 6, obviating ruler and compass
construction.

GENERAL NOTE FOR ALL THESE CARDS.

OLYHEDR
If you cut off a triangle by mistake, take a piece with two
triangles together. Fold on the line. Put one triangle in place
of that cut off and stick the other on to the main piece. t

Reference
Tapson, F. et al, CalendarModelsfor 1996. Mathematics
in School24, 5.

by Cecily Nevill
P
Author
CecilyNevill, 1 Old NewbridgeHill, Bath,BA1 3LX (Retired)

36 Mathematics in School, September 1996

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 1. Folded Cube

with top and bottom like this

3 1 ~ I 1

1 2 3 4

b d

1 2 3 4

c6

Cut along the lines marked cut. This will take away eight triangles and leave 1, 2, 3, 4 which will
overlap to make the top and the bottom.

Fold away from you on the lines.

Make a cube shape with squares a, b, c, d.

Roll it along keeping the cube shape inside, with 2 outside 1, 3 outside 2, 4 outside 3. Tuck 4 under
1. This is done for both top and bottom.

Mathematics in School, September 1996 37

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 2. An Open Cube (No Sticking)

Number both sides of the

paper. Cut along the lines
marked CUT. Fold away
10
from you on the solid lines
and towards you on the
dashed lines.

Fold the middle into a cube

by putting 1 inside 2 inside
9 3 4 inside 5 inside 6. Fold
7 inside 1. Put 8 on the
base. Fold 9 inside 4. Put
10 on the base.

o a
5 £ 6 4

base

o 3I o
2 " 3 " 1

38 Mathematics in School, September 1996

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 3. Plaited Cube (No Sticking)

Cut between the arrows.

Shave the two sides of the tuck.

Write the numbers on both sides of the paper.

Fold away from you on all lines. With the comer towards you plait it into a cube by putting

1 behind 2
3 in front of 4
5 behind 6
11 7 in front of 8
9 behind 10
11 in front of 12
Tuck in 13.

SHAVE

2 5 7 12 TUCK 13

cut between arrows SHAVE

1 3 8 10

Mathematics in School, September 1996 39

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 4. A Pop-up Cube

4 5

A 21 B
G 6

C
/E

\' 3 7

/F D

The numbered parts are the net. Join A to D and B to E to give the edges of 2. Join C to F to give
the edges of 3. Cut around AG, GB, BC, CH, HD. Fold away from you on all lines. Fold with 4
on 5, 6 on 7, 2 and 3 on 1.

4,5 6,7

2 3

B C

Cut two rectangles of firm card about 10 cm by 5 cm. Stick al with BC in the middle of a long edge
of one card. Stick the other card to match on top of 2 and 3. Label the opposite edge "OPEN HERE".

40 Mathematics in School, September 1996

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 5. A Cubical Die from Three Interlaced Strips

tuck under tuck under Cut out the three strips. Draw on
tuck under
2 4 1 the spots and write the numbers on
the back. The first square can be
shaved if it does not fit underneath
easily. Fold away from you on each
line.

* * * e
- I I-
I_- Cn
Cn cn (\n

> *

Cn Cn

blank blank

Stand strip (1) up like a G, with 1 on top, blank on the left, 6 at the bottom. Lay (iii) through it
face downwards, with 3 at the back, blank on top of 6, 4 at the front. Stand up (ii) like four walls
and wrap it round (i), with 5 on the left outside and 2 on the right outside. Fold up 3 and 4 and
put the blank on top but under 1.
Tuck in under 2.

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 6. Folding a RegularTetrahedron (No Sticking)

5 2

1/
6

Use equilateral triangle grid paper in a larger size if possible.

Fold on all lines. Put 1 inside 2 to make a vertex (point) of the tetrahedron. Fold over 3 to make its base. Put 4
outside 5. Fold over the rest and tuck in 6.

42 Mathematics in School, September 1996

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 7. Folding a Regular Octahedron (No Sticking)

3 8

2 1 4
A'

Use equilateral triangle grid paper of a larger size if possible.

Cut along the line marked CUT.

Fold away from you on all lines.

Hold the net with A towards you.

Put 1 under 2 to make the vertex of the octahedron at A. Put 3 under 4 and 5 under 6 to make the rest of the
octahedron. Put 7 under 8. Tuck in 9.

Mathematics in School, September 1996 43

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 8. Folding Halfa Tetrahedron

A B

3.5cm 3.5cm 3.5cm

c
HI I I

3.5cm

The squares have side 4 cm, the triangles have base 4 cm and height 3.5 cm. Shave a little off edges
of those shapes which will be inside, (A, B, C, D and G). Fold on all lines. Hold A and B and turn
them until B covers A. Fold in C and D. Their ends overlap. Cover them with E. Cover B with F.
Tuck G under H. Make a second solid. Fit together to make a tetrahedron.

44 Mathematics in School, September 1996

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