I have been teaching my math students how to solve the Rubik's Cube for many years.  The confidence it builds is nothing short of amazing.  O.K., I hear your skepticism so here is a real story. I had an eighth grade girl who was an A student in my classroom.  Respectful, smart, hardworking etc. Towards the end of the year I was speaking with her and she told me that up until that year she had always done poorly in mathematics.  I asked her why and she said:

"After I completed the Rubik's Cube I felt very smart and capable" 

I was shocked.  I would have bet this girl was an A student all along.  It changes how students feel about their abilities.   

So why am I writing about the cube?  I strongly encourage any educator to consider the cube as another tool in their on-going strategy to provide great motivational lessons.  Here is what I have discovered about the benefits of the cube: 

Everyone - not just students - is intrigued by the cube.  Just put one out at a party and see how many people pick it up and try to solve it.  It has built in appeal.  You don't have to sell the idea to students.  They will willingly listen to you if they get to put their hands on it.

Learning the cube provides what I call the M.A.P.S to success.
 
M - Motivation, Memorization & Mental stimulation
A - Asking questions, Acquiring knowledge
P - Persistence, Patience, Perseverance
S - Slowing down and Showing steps

These are all traits that we try to get our students to model but with the cube they just seem to appear naturally.  It doesn't matter if you're a parent or teacher the cube has many benefits to the child.

So hopefully by now I have you intrigued but you may be saying - "Sounds good but I can't solve the cube and would have no idea how to begin".  No worries!  I wouldn't get you all excited and then leave you to figure it out for yourself.  This year I ran across an educational product being offered by Rubik's Cube called "You Can Do The Cube". 
"You Can Do The Cube"

The Ultimate Classroom Manipulative

By Ron McDevitt
It is being promoted primarily to educators as a complete package for bringing the cube into your classroom.  I contacted the company and they sent me out a kit to review.  The kit comes with 12 new Rubik's cubes, an instructional video, mathematics lesson plans, printed completion certificates, posters, logs and professional color coded instructions and more. 

"It has everything you could want or need to bring the cube into your classroom" 
They even have a website which allows you to get great lessons, engaged in forum discussions, get involved in competitions and more.

"The cost for this kit for educators is incredibly cheap" 

As an example: one cube alone on the Rubik's Cube official site costs around $12.00.  In this educators kit you get 12 cubes.  That is $144 in cubes alone, not to mention the professional dvd instructional video, posters, logs, printed color instructions, lessons and more.  As of this writing the cost to educators is only $49.99 for the entire kit.
 
By the way I am not earning an affiliate commission to tell you about this product.  I just think it is an exceptional value and I know from experience that the Rubik's Cube is a very useful tool in our constant quest to get kids engaged and learning.

I am writing about the Rubik's Cube because I think it is a great tool and one I would highly recommend to any educator.

If you are interested in bringing the cube into your classroom then please go check out the You Can Do The Cube site and consider using it at your school.  I created a lunchtime club on my campus and students sign up.  We meet twice a week.  It is a great way to get to know your kids and get them excited about math.  You could also bring it into your regular classroom as a supplemental manipulative or even offer a before school, after school or summer school enrichment program.  There are many ways to incorporate it into your curriculum. 

For great ideas and cube math lessons go to The Sample Lessons Page on the You Can Do The Cube site and please pass this information on to any fellow teachers that you think may benefit.

Have Fun and Happy Cubing!

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Have a great school year!