Race to Catch a Buckyball

Student Handout

Building a Buckyball

Think you can build your own Buckyball? Find out with this activity.

1. Cut out the pentagon and hexagon shapes.

2. Trace enough copies so that you have 12 pentagons and 20 hexagons.

3. Use transparent tape to attach the shapes together and build a model Buckyball. Each pentagon should be surrounded by 5 hexagons. Hexagons should be surrounded by three hexagons and three pentagons placed next to each other alternately.

4. When you are finished, try to create other types of three-dimensional shapes based on hexagons and pentagons.