Expandagon Construction System; Expert Kit

Inventor Chuck Hoberman's construction kit adapts to simple geometric shapes or to more elaborate fantasy forms. When connected, the colorful, interlocking square and triangular blocks open and close in fluid slow motion. This building system allows you to build a shape that can unfold and transform into a new, different, expanded shape by pressing any set of Magic Points. It is a good, fun 3-dimensional approach to geometry of solids. The EXPERT kit has enough pieces to build an icosahedron (not truncated, though, for soccer fans). You can also build rockets, star cruisers, etc. as well as the more academic shapes. At the bottom of each page in the instruction booklet, there are "Fun Geometry" ideas or "Inventors hints." This creative system provides children ages 8 and up with a fun, hands-on feel for geometry. Kit includes: 20 Expanda-Triangles, 6 Expanda-Squares, 18 X-Linkages, 24 Swivel-Hubs, 60 Connector Tubes, 16 Nexus Connectors, 6 Open-Clips.