HEXAFLEXAGON FUN: LEARN & PLAY!
PINCH off "1 part Art", PULL out "2 parts craft", & FLEX Recreational Geometry into "3 parts Math"... FOLD it all into a DYNAMIC, FLIPPING, FUN TOY?!
YES! SOMETHING CREATIVE TO DO with your kids on a rainy afternoon, or simply to inspire your own "inner child"? Remember "way back when"? Ever make those Origami paper "cootie catchers" (fortune tellers?) You know, they had different numbers/letters/colors on all the facets/different sides, & there was that whole social/interactive game around it? ("Pick a color", then open that flap... "Pick a number"... ETC., & based upon your friends' answers- They ended up getting a certain "secret special fortune" in the middle?) Well, time to BRING IT ON BACK with a TWIST, er...OR MAKE THAT A FLEX! LOL! So, now the exciting PEP TALK is done...(;D) LET'S GET STARTED, with a few questions/ideas to INSPIRE?! <3
1) What kind of PAPER will you use?
a. Recycle leftover wrapping paper?
b. Re-purpose excessive/extraneous product packaging?
c. Go "Au Naturel?" with brown paper, or something else?
d. Postcards from everywhere? Card stock?
e. Laminated maps?
f. "Plain printer paper's fine/You're annoying me?" (heheh!)
(Hint: Card stock, file folders, etc. are a better weight for these- So, if you opt for any pretty thin paper, maybe glue/rubber cement it to a thicker material for extra strength!)
2) What MATERIALS will you use to customize/decorate (If you are using plain cardboard, cardstock, plain paper, etc. as your basic material, & want to CUSTOMIZE/ Make Your Own Art!)?
a. Markers, paints, crayon, or ___ ?
b. Glow in the dark stickers or paints?
c. Who wants to pour on that glitter glue?
d. Shimmery, metallic paint pens, anyone?
e. Neon highlighters?
f. I have my own ideas, "'thank you', ma'am!"
3) Think you can make this a GAME -Ala "cootie-catchers" LOL (Also called origami fortune tellers!) If you decide to make one of those first, instead, or in addition- HERE YOU GO! http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/fortune/jbfortune.htm) They're still fun!
So, now that your "thinker's activated"- Time to LEARN to make HEXAFLEXAGONS! (YAY!) Here's a slew of HOW-TO links, websites, & videos, plus printable templates & instructions (& even photo, "step-by-step" style!) to help move you along! Do not get
overwhelmed! (You don't have to look at them all!) (C:) Just scan through & pick a one that seems to best suit your own learning style/desired level of project plan the very best!
Everything flexagon, PLUS diagrams/instructions!
http://flexagon.net/
I like how easy to understand this diagram/instruction is: http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/hexahexa/hexahexa.html
"Plain Paper Flexagon: 'Having caught the flexagon bug you’ll like to make many more. Here is a no-network, no-nonsense way of folding flexagons from PLAIN PAPER, WITH NO GLUING!" Scroll to PAGE 22 For GREAT INSTRUCTION: http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/LITTLESCIENCE.pdf The site is FANTASTIC & has many wonderful ideas for getting children excited about math & science WITHOUT ALL THE TEDIOUS BOREDOM!
Touted as the BEST ON THE WEB. Go Scott! All kinds of FLEXA-FUN! & This takes you to his HEXAFLEXAGONS http://loki3.com/flex/hexa.html Equilateral Triangle HexaFlexagon looks good to start- Here's the video: http://loki3.com/flex/hexa.html & here are the printable patterns (print both & glue together) 1) http://loki3.com/flex/triangle/hexa-5a.png & 2) http://loki3.com/flex/triangle/hexa-5b.png
But this one is so fun, & I DO SO ENJOY THE ROLLING EYEBALLS! Cute page, with great graph paper & "cartoonist/draftsman style", step-by-step, helpful instructions! http://www.murderousmaths.co.uk/games/flex/flexmake.htm
Detailed instructions FROM SCRATCH (no template) outta two sheets plain white paper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olKdmPcnMPw&feature=related
Colorful Construction Paper Hexaflexagon Instruction Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0i1ZcphgfA&feature=related
"Be a Gallant, not a Goofus!" (Highlights Magazine for Kids reference, LOL!) These two smarties devised a great system to MAKE A BUNCH AT ONE TIME (use file folders!) Yippeee! (Personally, I think the coloring/decorating is half the fun, & the other half is playing with the your new toy!)
http://www.outsideconnection.com/gallant/hexaflexagon/
Enchanted Learning: Hexaflexagon Instructions:
http://www.eighthsquare.com/flexagon.htmlhttp://www.enchantedlearning.com/math/geometry/hexaflexagon/instructions.shtml
& PRINTABLE TEMPLATE:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/math/geometry/hexaflexagon/template.shtml
PRINTABLE, COLORED-IN ALREADY, "ready to go" pattern/template with pre-printed instructions on top- Need that "Fast Food" option?:
http://sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/mathematics/paper_toy_5x.jpg
http://sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/mathematics/paper_ring.html
Auntie Annies got PRE COLORED & BLACK & WHITE (color it yerself!) patterns ready to print out on regular, white, letter-sized paper... She does advise doubling it up, or using heavier weight triangles (i.e. poster board) held together by tape for a sturdier toy, though! http://www.auntannie.com/Geometric/HexaHexaFlexagon/
This one is made of WOOD, & uses heavy nylon straps & magnets- They call it a coaster, but I can imagine other possibilities for this fun toy/puzzle, as well! Me likey! http://www.highland-games.co.uk/Crafty-Coaster.php
One very creative lady combined with CROCHETING, & KNITTING, & VOILA! The cushion/pillow hexaflexagon was born... Looks SO SOFT & FUN TO PLAY WITH! Even comes in F L U F F Y! <3 SUPER FUN! Can be a FRISBEE, too! http://www.woollythoughts.com/foldingcushions.html
TriHexaFlexagon: Make your own from scratch. Easy instructions include VIDEO plus series of step by step photographs of the process, AND PRINTABLE TEMPLATE! Nicely done, & well presented!
http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/trihexaflexagon/flexagon.html
http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/trihexaflexagon/flexagon.pdf
Here is Vi Hart's presentation: "you start with original simple, three-faced hexaflexagon, which you call the trihexaflexagon, and he is like, wow, I want to learn how to make one and you’re like, it’s easy, just start with a paper strip, fold it into equilateral triangles and you will need nine of them, and you fold them around into this cycle, and make sure it’s all symmetric, like the flat parts are diamonds, and if they are not, then you’re doing it wrong, and then you just tape the first triangle to the last, along the edge, and you are good." Entertaining, & fun to watch, though SHE TALKS & MOVES REALLY FAST, which might not be great for beginner instruction! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIVIegSt81k&feature=player_embedded
Do you want 6 faces Hexa Hexa, or 3 faces Tri Hexa? Both included here! http://www.maths.uq.edu.au/~infinity/Infinity%2012/hexaflex.html
Hexa Hexa (Six-Sided) FANTASTICO instructions & templates make it look EASY! I would like to decorate one with the four seasons, & maybe the daytime sky/sun & the night sky/moon & stars, I think! You know- For the kids! ;D http://thinkzone.wlonk.com/Flexagon/Hexahexaflexagon.pdf
Kaleidocycles/Flexahedron:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Kaleidocycles-amazing-dynamic-papercraft/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-hexaflexagon/
ADVANCED (Labor intensive/Not at all for kids, except as a present!) This one would make a great stocking stuffer/small holiday gift for extended family members, (grown-ups, too- Just customize for each individual with personally endearing family photographs or images! PHOTO HEXAFLEXAGONS! (Sparking an idea to make this a more permanent as an office desk toy/"objet d'art" for the home on thin tin, or at least put on archival quality cardstock, with archival fixative, or some quality shellac to better extend/protect the "life of the precious photos?"/Somehow make toy more durable!) http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/fotothf/fotothf.htm
WHOA- This guy got really into it & built a die for cutting, plus a machine for folding & made a beautiful product (Artistic!). http://www.dcgeorge.com/gpage12.html
WELL, EVERYONE WHO MADE IT TO THE BOTTOM GETS A THANK YOU, & A PRIZE (It's a nap!) zzzzzz (;D) Anyhoo- If you have young, or impatient children (or adults! heheh!), maybe print & cut the templates ahead, & possibly even fold them up- Just let kids help decorate or color them, maybe put "the last glitter sprinkle/final stickers on" at the very end? Anyways, ENJOY, & WISHING HAPPY DREAMS TO ALL!
(C:) <3 <3 <3
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