Instructions+for+Icosahedron+Construction

1. Using the circle/triangle template found on the class documents page, cut 20 circles from a sheet of tag board. Space the circles close together to make sure you can fit all the circles on one piece, otherwise you may need two pieces of tagboard.

2. Decorate/write your information INSIDE the triangle area

3. Cut out the circles from the tagboard.

4. Fold the curved sides of circle along the edges of the triangle. Folding the sides up will mean the flaps will be on the outside of the icosahedron while folding the flaps down means the flaps will be on the inside of the icosahedron.

5. Select 5 of the triangles and place them in a circle with the top points of the triangle facing the center, like pieces of sliced pie.

6. Staple or glue the curved flaps of the adjacent triangles. It should resemble a hat when completed. This is the top of the icosahedron.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the bottom of the icosahedron

8. To make the center of the ball, take the remaining 10 triangles and place them in a straight row, with alternating points up and points down. Staple or glue the flaps of these pieces.

9. Bring the ends of the row of triangles together and staple or glue the two end creases together to form a ring of 10 triangles.

10. Set the ring up on a table and place the top of the icosahedron on the ring matching up the curved flaps. Staple or glue at the flaps.

11. Turn over the icosahedron and repeat for the bottom segment. The icosahedron should now be complete.

12. If the flaps are on the outside, punch a hole through one of the exposed flaps so we can tie a piece of string to the icosahedron. If your flaps are on the inside, you will need to punch two holes through one of the faces in the icosahedron so we can hang them in the classroom.

Pictures of the stages of assembly will follow later this week. There are other ways to create an icosahedron. If you want to try another way, go right ahead, just make sure the faces are big enough to display the information.