| Author | |
Mary G
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5790
|
| Posted: Nov 13 2006 at 12:41pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Here's a question for all you math folks:
When I was little, my sister had a 3-d puzzle made of red plastic pieces that created a 3x3 cube. In addition, you could take those 7 pieces and make all kinds of shapes (walls, dragon, etc) using all the pieces. Kind of a 3-d tangram puzzle. I have since found out this is called a "Soma Cube" invented by Piet Hein in 1939.
I'd love to find something similar for my kids -- any suggestions? Does anyone have a book that shows these puzzles to create? Anyone remember something like this?
__________________
MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Courtney
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 796
|
| Posted: Nov 13 2006 at 1:28pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Timberdoodle catalog has something similar to this that I was thinking of ordering. Look here. This may not be exactly what you're looking for though.
__________________
Courtney in Texas
Wife to Mike since 3/94 
Mom to Candace 10/97 ,Christopher 4/00 and Connor 11/11
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stefoodie
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8457
|
| Posted: Nov 13 2006 at 1:36pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I found a bunch of soma cubes, information, make-your-own instructions, etc. by googling, Mary. And at eBay there are soma cubes being sold, including one from 1969. there's a very pretty colored one at teachersupplyusa.com and a really nice two-toned one at elgames.com. it does look like a lot of fun, i'm considering getting one for one of the kids' stockings. thanks for the info!
__________________
stef
mom to five
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mary G
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5790
|
| Posted: Nov 13 2006 at 4:12pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks Courtney and Stef --
Courtney, your suggestion is close but Timberdoodle doesn't sell the "Equilibrio" that you need so I can't tell.
Stef, you were bang on! Ebay actually has the one my sister had! I think I'll go with the medium wooden one as the description says: We have upgraded our instruction sheets to include 60 3-D shapes that can be made (with solutions), along with recommended websites that are dedicted to this puzzle that will give you many more shapes, plus math theory, history and more. Our instruction sheets will greatly enhance the joy that is inherent in this most excellent puzzle.
THANKS!
__________________
MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Courtney
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 796
|
| Posted: Nov 13 2006 at 8:29pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mary, I looked at the red one on ebay...my sister had this when I was little, too! I loved it! I just ordered the wooden one from ebay. Can't wait!
__________________
Courtney in Texas
Wife to Mike since 3/94
Mom to Candace 10/97,Christopher 4/00 and Connor 11/11
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mary G
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5790
|
| Posted: Nov 13 2006 at 8:58pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Courtney wrote:
| Mary, I looked at the red one on ebay...my sister had this when I was little, too! I loved it! I just ordered the wooden one from ebay. Can't wait! |
|
|
I just ordered the large wooden one -- I think I'll give it my dh who is teaching geometry this year, fin his shoe on St. Nick day! (or maybe I'll just give it to myself and let him borrow it  )
__________________
MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Natalia
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1343
|
| Posted: Nov 13 2006 at 9:33pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mary G wrote:
| Thanks Courtney and Stef -- |
|
|
Isn't this it? Equilibrio
Natalia
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mary G
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5790
|
| Posted: Nov 13 2006 at 9:46pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Natalia,
The Soma cube is 7 pieces that create a 3x3 cube. You can also make all different kinds of 3-d designs with the cube -- like a 3-d tangram puzzle. Here's a site with much more than you'd want to know about Soma cube. Here are some of the shapes you can make with the 7 pieces. And here's another site -- Thorlief's SOMA page that lists TONS of shapes that can be made with just these 7 pieces. It really is a fascinating bit of geometry invented back in 1939
__________________
MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Natalia
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1343
|
| Posted: Nov 14 2006 at 7:44am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mary,
Thanks for the explanation. I was just pointing out that Timberdoodle does sell Equlibrio. But I didn't know what a Soma Cube was anyways I looks like a great gift.
Natalia
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Living and Loving Numbers
Topic: Soma Cubes
