What is the Original Crystal Polydron Basic Set?

The Original Crystal Polydron Basic Set (code 10-3005CRYSTAL) is a 164-piece translucent construction kit from Polydron for children aged 4 and over. It contains 100 equilateral triangles, 40 squares and 24 pentagons, plus an exploring booklet. The pieces are made from tough engineering grade polycarbonate and come in red, yellow, blue, green and clear.

What can children build with Crystal Polydron?

Children join the three key shapes to make their first 2D patterns and 3D shapes. Because the pieces are see-through, children can look inside a solid structure and start to understand the shape and space within it. Each square side measures 7.5 cm. Polydron recommends using the set on a light table or against a light source, and the clear pieces let children add colour within their models.

For schools

• Supports maths teaching on 2D and 3D shape, nets, faces, edges and vertices at KS1 and KS2.
• Adds a light and colour dimension to shape work in EYFS and science areas with a light table.
• Gives pupils a concrete model before pictorial and abstract work, in line with Quality First Teaching.
• 164 pieces give a small group enough shapes to build and compare models together.
• Dishwasher safe at 70°C, which helps keep shared resources clean.

For parents and home use

• Encourages open-ended building with colour, light and shape at home.
• Joining the pieces gives regular fine motor practice.
• The exploring booklet offers ready-made ideas for getting started.
• Suitable from age 4, with scope for older children to build complex solids.
• Holding a finished model up to a window turns maths into something to enjoy and talk about.

Supporting learners with SEND and learning differences

Hands-on construction helps many learners with SEND and learning differences grasp maths ideas that feel abstract on paper. With Crystal Polydron, children can touch, turn and count the faces of a shape, and also see through it to the edges at the back. The bright translucent colours give strong visual cues, especially on a light table. Joining edges builds fine motor control, and folding a flat net into a solid makes the link between 2D and 3D shape concrete.

The Original Crystal Polydron Basic Set is available to order from The Dyslexia Shop, a UK specialist in resources for SEND and learning differences, for the classroom or for home.