Make a Polygon Alphabet

Dec 6

The Polygon Alphabet is the perfect math activity for ages 8-12 — you will always know the definition of a polygon after making 26 of them! (Polygon: a closed shape made with three or more straight lines.) My kid made this when he was 10 and then used it as a code, writing secret messages in his own polygon alphabet language. Making the different shapes, and then filling them in with color, feels like animating math. It’s a STEM game!

Other polygon activities:

Cut up a bunch of equilateral triangles out of colored paper and make shapes, overlapping them, turning them into a circle, weaving them together. As long as you end up with straight-sides shapes, these are all polygons!

Make a pattern using polygons. You can make a potato stamp by carving a polygon (maybe a square or a triangle) on the cut side of a potato and then inking the cut side using a stamp pad to make a pattern that repeats. You can also draw your pattern on paper or cut up shapes and glue a polygon pattern. Polygon patterns can also be printed or drawn on fabric using fabric paint or markers. Try this on a blank white T shirt.

Use a geoboard, or any a board with pegs, and create straight-sides shapes using a rubber band. How many sides can you create and still have a polygon? How many polygons can you fit onto your geoboard at the same time? Experiment and find out!

When my kid was done making his Polygon Alphabet, I thought it was so beautiful that I wanted to frame it!

Materials (with affiliate links):

Card stock in a variety of colors perfect for cutting into shapes

Stabilo Thick-Colored Pencils, set of twelve, perfect for filling in blank polygons

Stabile Thick Colored Pencils, set of 18 colors

Geoboard with rubber bands

Polygon Shapes in brightly colored plastic (450 translucent pieces)

Zenacolor Fabric Markers, set of 20 permanent marker pens

Fruit of the Loom Boy’s Cotton White T Shirts, set of five