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Build a Cube Challenge

For this challenge, participants will be challenged to construct a perfect cube using the provided blocks.

Note
These instructions assume you are running this challenge at the Humber Polytechnic campus in room CTI306. If you are not, there are instructions at the bottom of this page on creating your own copies of this puzzle.

1. There are seven copies of this puzzle in the plastic drawers in room CTI306. Sort the blocks based on their colour. There should be six 2 x 2 x 1 blocks and three 1 x 1 x 1 blocks.

2. Instruct the class that:

   • The coloured patterns on the blocks are not part of the puzzle.
   • You may not disassemble the blocks.

3. Put students into groups (max seven groups). Give each group a puzzle. Instruct groups to use the blocks to build a perfect cube.

4. Hint! If groups are struggling, encourgae them to calculate the overall size of the cube. The overall size of the cube will be 3 x 3 x 3 (like a Rubiks Cube).

5. Hint! If groups continue to struggle, inform the groups that one of the 1 x 1 x 1 blocks will go in the exact middle of the puzzle.

Solution

Here are step by step instructions for the cube puzzle solution:

Build Your Own Cubes

If you are not using this challenge at Humber Polytechnic or do not have access to the puzzles form CTI306, you may use the following instructions to build your own:

Download the cube puzzle instructions PDF

To create these puzzles you will need tp purchase the following parts from LEGO® Pick a Brick:

Download the cube puzzle part list

Note
Each puzzle will cost about $45.00 CDN. When building multiple puzzles, change up the colours!

Digital Version

For use during online classes, there is a Digital Cube Puzzle. This puzzle is slightly easier as:

1. To keep the interation easy, the orientation of each block is provided.
2. The size of the overall cube is provided.

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