Cube Creator
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/cube_creator/
The Cube creator is an online interactive tool. There are four cube templates, three of which have
predefined questions/topics on the faces of a cube, and permit the user add responses to the
questions. The fourth cube type allows the user to add their own questions/topics. The cube can be
rotated on screen and printed as a development. The development can be printed and glued
together to form a solid cube.
Suggested teaching strategies
Using the Bio Cube:
As a whole class, in groups, in pairs or individually answer the questions. This will assist the pupils in
engaging critically with a famous historical figure/character in a story/character in a novel, and the
complete cube can act as a useful revision aid.
If creating a fictitious character for a story this cube can help students plan key events in the story
and assist the student create a background story for the character.
Using the Story Cube:
Using the story cube and the predefined questions: As a whole class, in groups, in pairs or
individually answer the questions. This will assist the pupils in engaging critically with the key events
and plot points of a story/character/novel, and the complete cube can act as a useful revision aid.
This cube can act a prompt for creative writing exercises as it will assist the students in creating key
events in the story.
Using the Create-Your-Own-Cube:
Using the create-your-own-cube and the predefined questions: as a whole class, in groups, in pairs
or individually summarise the key events and plot points in a story of a famous historical
figure/character in a story/character in a novel.
This tool can act as a great revision and summary tool for any topic. Get students to create their own
questions and cube and challenge each other.
Create a cube with only questions. Using pupils responses fill in the cube on the projector. Each face
can have a question with a different level of difficulty. The questions on each face could relate to a
different level of Blooms taxonomy ensuring pupils of all ability levels are challenged.
Create a cube where the questions and the answers are mixed up. Students will have to match the
answers to the questions.
Print out the cubes and get students to quiz each other in pairs.
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When the cube creator loads you are prompted to insert your name in the box, outlined in red
below.
There are four cube types available. Each face of the bio cube, mystery cube and story cube has a
predefined question. These questions cannot be edited. The “create your own cube” allows you to
insert your own question. All cubes allow you to insert a response to each question.
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To assist the process a planning sheet for each cube can be downloaded and printed by clicking the
planning sheet icon, outlined in yellow above. The planning sheet for the bio cube is shown below.
Once you have decided on a cube type, and have undergone the planning process, select the cube
type you wish to use.
To add a question or add a topic left click in the white box under “Question/Topic” (outlined in red
below) and type your question. You may leave this field blank if you wish. If you wish to prevent a
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“Question/Topic” filed from being edited you can left click on the padlock icon, outlined in green, to
lock to field.
To add a response left click in the white box under “Response:” (outlined in red below) and type
your response. You may leave this field blank if you wish.
The face of the cube on which you are typing is identified on the top of the cube, outlined in purple.
To progress to the next face or previous face of the cube, left click the next and previous buttons,
outlined in yellow below.
If you wish to rotate the cube to a specific side select the side from the icons to the left of the cube,
outlined in red below.
You can save a cube by left clicking the Save icon, outlined below in green.
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Once save is selected the pop-up window shown below will appear. You are required to name the
file, outlined in red, and to select save, outlined in green.
You will then be prompted to choose a destination on your computer to save the file.
When you have completed the cube and wish to save it as a PDF file or print it, left click the finish
icon, outlined below in red.
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On this screen you have the option to print, save as a PDF or save an electronic version of the file.
By selecting print, outlined in red below, you have the option to print the file directly as a developed
cube which can be cut out and glued to form a cube.
By selecting save final, outlined in purple below, you have the option to save a PDF file of the
developed cube which can be printed out at a later date and cut out and glued to form a cube.
By selecting save draft, outlined in green below, you can save an electronic file of the cube. This
allows you to return to previous screens to edit the cube.
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To open an existing cube click the open tab, outlined below in red.
Left click the find my file tab, outlined below in red.
Browse for the file you save, left click on the file (outlined below in green), and left click open,
outlined below in red.
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Once the cube file has loaded, left ok, outlined below in red.
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