Slide-Together Models Made with Squares

George Hart, the king of polyhedra-inspired sculpture, created models that are easy to build by sliding together simple shapes.

Steps

1. Cut out 30 pattern pieces from card stock. Use five different colors for an interesting model.
   
2. Slide squares together at the slots always sliding a short and a long slot together. Start by sliding five squares, one of each color, in a ring around a pentagonal hole.
   
3. Form another ring of squares around the first five squares Slide a square to connect every other. Refer to the picture to see what our end result will look like.
   

Notes

• The slots in the squares cut the edges of the squares in the golden ratio.
  
• The squares in this model are the same as those in the rhombicosahedron.
  
• The squares are also similar to those in the small rhombidodecahedron.
  
• Images of the two polyhedra were created by Robert Webb's Great Stella software
  

Links

• Slide together models are described on George Hart's website.
• George Hart wrote a paper about using slide-together models in the classroom.