Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Hex-a-flex-a-gon

Turns out October is flexahexagon month. So we decided to explore the wonder of these flexing hexagons.
 The first step was trying to flex them (well step one was me trying to make them but my kids are too little to get in on that frustration.)
 Pinch, fold, flatten, if you couldn't fold pinch the other side of the triangles.  With a bit of practice they were flexing like pros.
Then we decorated the sides, this way they could discover the hidden 3rd side, it was quite a surprise for them.
 Soon we were experimenting with patterns.
 Then it was time for them to create their own flexahexagons, this turned out easier said than done and flexahexagon isn't the easiest thing to say.  They unfolded their originals and tried to use them as a template.  Eventually I stepped in and helped (maybe next year they will be able to handle them on their own.)
 Charry being older I made her decorate before folding into the hexagon.  She had to figure out where the sides would be.
Soon my table was full of hexaflexagons and I pulled up Vi Hart on youtube so they could see the hexa-flexa-possibilities!

I wonder what else we can do with hexaflexagons?

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