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How to Create 3D Geometry With Paper

Creating three-dimensional (3D) shapes out of paper is a fun task and also highly important when done by young kids. This is because through simple crafts, children can understand the connection between two-dimensional (2D) shapes such as (squares or triangles) and geometric solids (like cubes, pyramids or cylinders). A ruler and a compass are necessary to form the shapes in paper before cutting them out, folding them and holding their sides together with sticky tape. Make sure you don't use extremely thin paper or the resulting shapes will be unstable.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper
  • Sticky tape
  • Pencil
  • Ruler
  • Compass
  • Scissors
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Instructions

  1. Cube

    • 1

      Use the ruler to draw a square in the middle of the paper. Form four adjacent squares on each side of the original square, creating a cross. On one side of the cross add another adjacent square.

    • 2

      Cut out the shape you've drawn. Fold the sides of the original square. Use sticky tape to hold the four sides of the cube together.

    • 3

      Fold the remaining square to close the cube. Carefully stick it together with its adjacent sides to finish the cube.

    Square Pyramid

    • 4

      Draw a square in the middle of the paper. On all four sides of the paper form equilateral triangles (having all sides equal).

    • 5

      Cut out the shape and fold all sides of the original square.

    • 6

      Glue the triangles together using sticky tape.

    Cylinder

    • 7

      Draw a rectangle on paper and cut it out. Form a tube with it and hold it together with sticky tape.

    • 8

      Measure the diameter of the cylinder's openings. Use a compass to form two circles of the same diameter on paper and cut them out.

    • 9

      Use sticky tape to glue the circles on the openings of the tube and complete the cylinder.

    Cone

    • 10

      Form a large circle using your compass and cut it out. Remove a quadrant of the circle (a 90-degree section). The circle should now resemble the computer game character "Pac-Man."

    • 11

      Bring the two sides of the opening together (Pac-Man's upper and lower lip). Keep the sides together using sticky tape.

    • 12

      Measure the opening's diameter and draw an equal circle on paper. This will be the cone's base. Attach it to your shape using sticky tape.

    Tetrahedron

    • 13

      Form a large equilateral triangle on paper. Measure each side's length and connect the middle of each side with three new lines. The result should be four smaller equilateral triangles within the original one.

    • 14

      Cut out the shape and fold the sides of the small triangle.

    • 15

      Use sticky tape to hold the sides and complete your tetrahedron.

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