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How to Build a Fish with CONNETIX

How to Build a Fish with Connetix magnetic tiles
How to Build a Fish with Connetix magnetic tiles

How to Build a Fish with CONNETIX

By Lucy Giesbrecht

Have you ever observed the sparkle in a child’s eyes when they catch a glimpse of a vibrant fish swimming gracefully in an aquarium or pond? There is an undeniable fascination that children have with these aquatic wonders. The world of fish captivates young minds in ways that are both magical and educational. An easy-to-build Fish using Magnetic Tiles from CONNETIX is a great starting point to support and encourage this fascination.

How to Build a Fish with Connetix magnetic tiles

The Tiles you need to build this fish are:

  • 14 x Small Equilateral Squares
  • 13 x Small Equilateral Triangles
  • 2   x Isosceles Triangles
  • 6   x Right-angle Triangles
  • 1   x Trapezoid Tile
  • 1   x Diamond Tile
  • 1   x 2-Square Rectangle

The Small Equilateral Triangles can be substituted by the diamond or trapezoid tiles.

The 2-Square Rectangles can be substituted with small squares and vice versa.

Step by Step Instructions:

  1. Build the middle part of the fish’s body (which is called the trunk) by creating a vertical standing rectangle box using ten small equilateral squares. An alternative would be using four of the 2-square rectangles and only two of the small squares.
     
  2. Now create four trapezoid shapes on both sides of the trunk. Connect the two trapezoids with three small squares. These are the head and the tail. You can use 12 small equilateral triangles and six small squares. An alternative for the small equilateral triangles would be using four trapezoid tiles or a combination of four diamond tiles and four small equilateral triangles.
     
  3. Use four small equilateral triangles to form the mouth of the fish in the form of a small pyramid.
     
  4. Build the Caudal Peduncle of the fish (the thinnest part of the fish’s body before the tail) by forming a 3D triangle using two small equilateral triangles and a small square. Note that the bottom part is open. Adding a small square at the bottom would make the build heavier and unstable. Connect four small right-angle triangles to form the tail fin (called Caudal Fin). The Peduncle is like a stem for the fins. It acts like a motor and the fins are like the propeller. The strong swimming muscles of the tail are found in the Peduncle.
     
  5. Connect two small right-angle triangles on the back of the Fish. These are the Dorsal fins, which help maintain balance while swimming.

  6. Attach two Isosceles triangles, one on each side just behind the Fish’s head. These are the Pectoral Fins which help control the direction of movement during locomotion.

    Have fun learning while playing! 

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