Can you say “rhombicuboctahedron”?

Did you know the Moravian Star, called Christmas Star by some, is known in geometry as a “rhombicuboctahedron”?

Try saying the word three times fast!

Moravian Star image courtesy of www.instructables.com.

A rhombicuboctahedron is a solid with eight triangular and eighteen square faces. Pyramids are placed on the faces. Some of the pyramids on the Moravian star have three sides, and some have four. Click here for a virtual view of various rhombicuboctahedrons.

Today, the Moravian Star is associated most often with Christmas. It began as an 1830s geometry lesson and was first displayed in 1920 during the 50th anniversary celebration of the Moravian Boys School in Niesky, Germany. Discover the history of the Moravian Star here.

Consider challenging older kids and adults to "channel their inner M.C. Escher" by crafting their own Moravian Star.

Drawing by MC Escher. Source: wikipedia.org.