Create 64 tetrahedrons and assemble together into units to create the massive, lightweight structure. Wacław Sierpiński is the name of a Polish mathematician famous for extensively describing a certain type of self-similar triangle, which means it’s not only a triangle made out of other triangles, but the drawing pattern repeats independently of the scale. This is true in 2 dimensions and also in 3 dimensions, where instead of a Sierpinski triangle is a Sierpinski pyramid.

Please note this resource was tailored for US schools and may require adjustments to suit UK schools.

🇬🇧 Teacher Notes

Overview and Objectives

Materials

Preparation

Make 64 pyramids

Create the first unit of the Sierpinski structure. Click a connector through the bottom corner of a pyramid

Attach a second pyramid

Add connectors to a third pyramid then combine all 3 pyramids

Add connectors to each of a fourth pyramid then add on top to complete the first unit

Repeat steps 2-5 to create 15 more units of the Sierpinski

Combine 2 units together

Attach a third unit

Stack a fourth unit on top

Repeat steps 7-9 to create 3 more large units of the Sierpinski

Combine 2 large units together

Attach the third large unit

Connect the final large unit on top

Complete the Sierpinski pyramid

Build

STEAM Classroom

United States

Architecture

Geometry

Construct a Sierpinski Pyramid