Watch a cereal box being opened right out until it lies completely flat.

It was a solid box a moment ago. Now it is a flat shape on the table. What solid did it make when it was folded, and how many faces can you count now that it is laid out flat?

Here is the flat shape we call a net. Watch each of these nets fold up. The faces are colour-matched, so you can follow where each flat square ends up on the finished solid.

This next one is not six squares in a neat cross. Watch which face becomes the base and which folds over to become the lid.

Now watch this next net as it folds. Keep an eye out for what happens to the faces.

This last shape is not a cube at all. Watch the square base sit flat while the four triangles fold up.

Now we build our own cube net on the grid and fold it to test. Tap the grid to place six squares. Before we fold, predict together: will this arrangement close into a cube, or will a face overlap or a gap open?

Once we have folded one arrangement and checked it, we clear the grid and try a different one. Each time, say what you expect before we press Fold.

Today we predict first, then fold to check. For each arrangement of squares, decide together: will it fold into a cube, or won't it close?

We work these in order: a clean cross first, then a T-shape, then a staircase, and finally six squares in one straight line.