![Soma cube puzzle Soma cube puzzle](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3E9zb1gqgGZQcKqMH1OOStTUOx_VSOar92TLVlHE1Vgxf2V2DNarGGlBOjlweUxFzSnHeqrlXNtFkBn_VDgxD73UETspWbtg-EpLzLf4Az5FX8lsZxucyMBrgOfvgOHSNEVuif1E6y0/s320/soma-cube.jpg)
The Soma cube is a 3D puzzle that consists of 7 pieces of different shapes. These pieces must be assembled into a 3x3x3 cube. There are 240 distinct ways to solve the puzzle. I made a home-made Soma cube puzzle out of small, about 1.5 x 1.5 x 1.5 cm (9/16 x 9/16 x 9/16 inches) colored wooden cubes, like those you can buy at arts and crafts shops. I didn't have to buy them, since we have been using such cubes for a long time — the kids like playing with them. Only 27 cubes in total are needed. I just glued them together with a wood glue, and here we go: now my children can enjoy this amazing puzzle, they solve it or build various 3D shapes out of its pieces: castles, animals, etc.
![Soma cube pieces Soma cube pieces](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQty0_E0ufDB1JMOiREVwfYat6E8BHOatE842Tf9DUlyJupykl7db2jOV6sRZppMjHPUYov1m-wmJ-Reu3WPQqegLZhI46icMd2vugpwzKjIZXbG9qh9YWxWCyTL1lmboI-wz1PShVwU/s320/soma-cube-parts.jpg)
Some interesting resources about the Soma cube: Soma cube in Wikipedia, Soma cubes, and a lot of stuff on the Soma cube.