What is the Original Crystal Polydron Basic Set?

The Original Crystal Polydron Basic Set (code 10-3005CRYSTAL) is a 164-piece translucent construction kit from Polydron for children aged 4 and over. It contains 100 equilateral triangles, 40 squares and 24 pentagons, plus an exploring booklet. The pieces are made from tough engineering grade polycarbonate and come in red, yellow, blue, green and clear.

What can children build with Crystal Polydron?

Children join the three key shapes to make their first 2D patterns and 3D shapes. Because the pieces are see-through, children can look inside a solid structure and start to understand the shape and space within it. Each square side measures 7.5 cm. Polydron recommends using the set on a light table or against a light source, and the clear pieces let children add colour within their models.

For schools

• Supports maths teaching on 2D and 3D shape, nets, faces, edges and vertices at KS1 and KS2.
• Adds a light and colour dimension to shape work in EYFS and science areas with a light table.
• Gives pupils a concrete model before pictorial and abstract work, in line with Quality First Teaching.
• 164 pieces give a small group enough shapes to build and compare models together.
• Dishwasher safe at 70°C, which helps keep shared resources clean.

For parents and home use

• Encourages open-ended building with colour, light and shape at home.
• Joining the pieces gives regular fine motor practice.
• The exploring booklet offers ready-made ideas for getting started.
• Suitable from age 4, with scope for older children to build complex solids.
• Holding a finished model up to a window turns maths into something to enjoy and talk about.

Supporting learners with SEND and learning differences

Hands-on construction helps many learners with SEND and learning differences grasp maths ideas that feel abstract on paper. With Crystal Polydron, children can touch, turn and count the faces of a shape, and also see through it to the edges at the back. The bright translucent colours give strong visual cues, especially on a light table. Joining edges builds fine motor control, and folding a flat net into a solid makes the link between 2D and 3D shape concrete.

The Original Crystal Polydron Basic Set is available to order from The Dyslexia Shop, a UK specialist in resources for SEND and learning differences, for the classroom or for home.

• Contents: 100 equilateral triangles, 40 squares, 24 pentagons and an exploring booklet
• Total pieces: 164
• Square side length: 7.5 cm
• Colours: Red, yellow, blue, green and clear
• Material: Engineering grade polycarbonate, BPA free and 100% recyclable, in a recyclable carton
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 33 x 22 x 8 cm
• Weight: 2.15 kg
• Age: 4 years and over
• Use: Suitable for a light table or against a light source
• Care: Dishwasher safe at 70°C
• Brand: Polydron (Original Crystal Polydron range)
• Polydron product code: 10-3005CRYSTAL
• Barcode (EAN-13): 5060164536673

• See inside the shape. Translucent pieces let children view the inside of a solid and count hidden faces and edges.
• Made for the light table. Red, yellow, blue, green and clear pieces glow on a light table or window.
• Built to last. Engineering grade polycarbonate pieces are dishwasher safe at 70°C for shared classroom use.
• Trusted UK supplier. Supplied by The Dyslexia Shop, a UK specialist in resources for SEND and learning differences.

What's in the Box

• 100 x equilateral triangles
• 40 x squares (7.5 cm sides)
• 24 x pentagons
• 1 x exploring booklet

Care and Cleaning

Dishwasher safe at 70°C.

Safety and Age Suitability

Suitable for ages 4 years and over.

Delivery and Returns

Standard UK delivery applies. See our Delivery and Returns page for full details.

• What is the Original Crystal Polydron Basic Set?
  The Original Crystal Polydron Basic Set is a 164-piece translucent shape construction kit made by Polydron. It contains 100 equilateral triangles, 40 squares and 24 pentagons in red, yellow, blue, green and clear, plus an exploring booklet. Children join the pieces to build 2D patterns and 3D shapes they can see inside.
• What age is Crystal Polydron suitable for?
  The Crystal Polydron Basic Set is suitable for children aged 4 years and over. Younger children can join shapes and make colourful flat patterns, while older pupils can build nets and solids such as cubes and pyramids. The open-ended pieces keep the set useful across the primary years and beyond.
• How can teachers use Crystal Polydron in the classroom?
  Teachers use Crystal Polydron to teach 2D and 3D shape, nets, faces, edges and vertices, with the bonus of light and colour. Pupils can build a solid and look through it to count hidden edges. The set works on a light table, and the pieces are dishwasher safe at 70°C for easy cleaning.
• Is the Crystal Polydron Basic Set good for home learning?
  Yes, the Crystal Polydron Basic Set suits home learning and open-ended play. Children can follow ideas in the included exploring booklet or invent their own models. Holding a model up to a sunny window shows off the colours, and joining the pieces gives regular fine motor practice.
• Is it suitable for children with SEND or learning differences?
  Yes, many children with SEND and learning differences benefit from hands-on resources like Crystal Polydron. Handling real shapes turns abstract geometry into something they can see, touch and count. The translucent colours give clear visual cues, especially on a light table, and adults can adjust tasks to each learner's pace.
• What comes in the Crystal Polydron Basic Set?
  The set contains 164 pieces and an exploring booklet. There are 100 equilateral triangles, 40 squares with 7.5 cm sides and 24 pentagons, supplied in red, yellow, blue, green and clear. Polydron lists the set at 33 x 22 x 8 cm and 2.15 kg.
• What is the difference between Crystal Polydron and Original Polydron?
  Crystal Polydron pieces are translucent, so light passes through them and children can see inside the shapes they build. Polydron makes them from tough engineering grade polycarbonate in red, yellow, blue, green and clear. This makes the Crystal set well suited to light tables and colour exploration alongside shape work.
• How do you clean Crystal Polydron pieces?
  Crystal Polydron pieces are dishwasher safe at 70°C. This makes it simple to clean the whole set after shared use in a classroom, nursery or intervention room. Polydron also states that the pieces are BPA free and 100% recyclable, and the set comes in a recyclable carton.