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Geodesic Dome | Playspace Crafts

Geodesic Dome

Total Time Needed: 1-2 Hours

Turn triangles of rolled newspaper into a surprisingly sturdy play structure. For a fancier tentlike space, glue sheets of tissue paper to the finished dome.

Materials

  • 100 full-size sheets of newspaper
  • Pencil
  • Masking tape
  • Scissors
  • Stapler (a heavy-duty model works best)

Instructions

Geodesic Dome - Step 1

1. Our dome requires 25 newspaper logs. To roll each log, first unfold and stack 4 sheets of newspaper. Set the pencil in one corner and roll up the sheets on the diagonal. Use the pencil only as a guide to help you roll evenly; don't roll the paper tightly around the pencil. When you've finished rolling, slip the pencil out of the log, tape it shut, and start the next one. After you've made 25 logs, trim the ends so that the logs are all the same length (ours are about 30 inches long).

Geodesic Dome - Step 2

2. Make 5 triangles, each with 3 logs stapled together at the corners. (Note: The logs shown here and in steps 3 and 4 are half-size, to fit in our photographs.)

Geodesic Dome - Step 3

3. Staple the 5 triangles together at their bottom corners. Add 5 connecting logs across the top as shown.

Geodesic Dome - Step 4

4. Pick up the strip of triangles and staple the ends together so that it forms a standing pentagonal structure. Staple together the 5 remaining logs to form a star.

Geodesic Dome - Step 5

5. Staple the free ends of the star to the junctions of the triangles on the base.

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