
MathemActive Giant Soma Puzzle
Collaborate and apply logic & spatial reasoning to solve a larger-than-life geometric puzzle!
This larger-than-life puzzle takes students out of their seats and gives a whole new meaning to hands-on. The Soma Puzzle is a classic favorite, and this kinesthetic version requires students to use their minds and their bodies. Through trial and error, students work together to assemble seven large shapes to recreate a cube. Through the process, they recognize that there’s more than one solution – over 200 solutions to be exact! This activity builds spatial reasoning skills while applying teamwork and critical thinking.
Done with building the cube? Try creating other shapes from the additional Soma Puzzle Cards (sold separately). This set of 25 cards includes different shapes that can be made from Soma pieces like a tower, a tunnel, a couch, and more. Challenge students to complete all 25 shapes! Storage box for the cards included.
The Mathemactive Giant Soma Puzzle includes 7 Soma foam shapes covered in lightweight vinyl. Each shape is a different color. Assembled cube is 4' x 4' x 4' and weighs 110 lb. When not in use, foam shapes can double as extra seating for the classroom. Accommodates 8 students. Recommended for Upper Elementary and up.
Click here to view a sample of the included lesson directions.
Common Core State Standards for Mathematics*:
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.G.A.3: Identify shapes as two-dimensional (lying in a plane) or three-dimensional (solid).
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.G.A.1: Distinguish between defining attributes (e.g., a rectangle is a quadrilateral with four right angles) and non-defining attributes (e.g., color, orientation, overall size) of a shape; build and draw shapes to possess defining attributes.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.G.A.1: Understand that shapes in different categories may share attributes, and that the shared attributes can define a larger category.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.G.A.2: Partitions shapes into parts with equal areas and expresses the area of each part as a unit fraction of the whole.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.G.B.3: Understand that attributes belonging to a category of two-dimensional figures also belong to all subcategories of that category.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.G.B.4: Classify two-dimensional figures in a hierarchy based on properties.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSG.GMG.A.1: Identify and apply geometric transformations in the coordinate plane.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSG.GMD.B.4: Use coordinates to prove simple geometric theorems algebraically.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSG.GMG.A.3: Describe the effect of dilations, translations, rotations, and reflections on two-dimensional figures using coordinates.
*National Governors Association Center for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers. (2010). Common Core State Standards. Washington, DC: Authors.