What's The Point

Gather your cybersquad around the kitchen table and build some basic geometry skills as you construct a house from Botopolis. Your 2-D plans take 3-D shape with some strategic cutting, folding, and gluing.

Related Game:
3-D Builder – Construct new buildings in Botopolis with the swipe of your finger.

This Activity Will Help Your Child

• Recognize 2-D and 3-D shapes
• Find shapes within other shapes
• Visualize flips and turn
• Predict 3-D shapes from 2-D outlines

Book Suggestions

• Captain Invincible and the Space Shapes (MathStart 2)
  by Stuart J. Murphy
• Jack the Builder (MathStart 2)
  by Stuart J. Murphy

Supplies

• 3-D Botopolis House activity sheet (PDF)
• Scissors
• Glue or tape

How Do I Do It?

1. With your child, study a cube (such as a square box or block) or a picture of a cube. What shape forms each side? Count the sides, and notice how the angles of each side touch at the corners. (You might also play the Cyberchase 3-D Builder app for iPad to learn more about building cubes).
2. Print out the 3-D Botopolis House activity sheet.
3. Follow the directions for folding the 2-D outline into a 3-D cube to construct your own Botopolis house.

Take It Further

Create your own box design. Use a pencil and ruler to draw your own 2-D template; then color, cut, fold, and glue it into shape. Make an entire village of square houses. Or try something new, like a pair of paper dice.