To make your "magic hexagon" you will need a strip of card (or paper) about 5 cms wide.  Using a 60-degree set-square, accurately draw a series of 10 equilateral triangles - as shown in the diagram above.  (NOTE: the diagram shows both back and front views of the strip.)

Colour the front sides of these triangles as shown in the lower half of the diagram - and colour the reverse sides as shown in the upper part of the diagram.  (NOTE: the grey triangles need not be coloured at all -as these will be used for gluing your hexagon together.)

Score well along all the edges of all the triangles.  (NOTE: this is important to make your "magic hexagon" work properly.)

Now fold the 7 triangles on the right side of your strip forwards, up and to the left - so that it looks like the diagram on the right.

Now fold the top four triangles forwards, down and to the left - so that it looks like the diagram on the left.

You should now be able to flick the grey triangle from underneath the red triangle - so that the grey triangle sits on top of the red triangle.  (See diagram below.)

Flap the left-hand grey triangle over onto the other grey triangle and carefully glue these together.

You will notice that the front of your triangle is all yellow - and the underneath is all blue.  So where are the red triangle faces?  They are obviously "inside" the "magic hexagon".

The challenge is to fold the "magic hexagon" in such a way that it becomes red and yellow (with the blue faces "inside") - and then red and blue (with yellow faces hidden).

Be patient!  Be careful!  Think!  Then baffle your friends with the magic!

Return to the "Make & do" menu page