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How to Make a Polygon

Physically measuring, drawing and cutting out polygons can help children with a concrete learning style make sense of the concepts of interior angles and regular sides. This activity as a class exercise builds connections between the principles of geometry and their application. Alternatively, a teacher or parent can make polygons -- basically, shapes composed of straight lines only -- ahead of time for use in later demonstrations during math class, in a home school setting or for shape-themed crafts with children.

Things You'll Need

  • Foam core
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Ruler
  • Protractor
  • Craft knife or scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Draw a straight line using a ruler and pencil. Measure the line and keep track of its length.

    • 2

      Place the center point of the protractor at one end of the line and align the protractor's flat base with the line you drew. Draw a dot at the point on the protractor's curve that indicates the interior angle of your desired polygon. The interior angles of some common regular polygons are as follows:

      Triangle: 60 degrees

      Square: 90 degrees

      Pentagon: 108 degrees

      Hexagon: 120 degrees

      Octagon: 135 degrees

      Regular polygon with n sides: (n - 2) * 180 / n

    • 3

      Line the ruler up between the end of the line and the mark you made to indicate the angle. Draw a line along it that is equal in length to the first line.

    • 4

      Repeat this process until you have drawn the entire polygon, each time aligning the protractor with the most recent line you drew. If a regular polygon is correctly constructed, all the angles and sides should be equal and the ends of the first and last lines you drew should meet at the same point.

    • 5

      Cut along the polygon's outline with a craft knife or scissors.

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