How Tooo videos
Getting to know a noook building disc
Each noook building discs is identical. The each have a 'front' and 'back' face; they each have a central hinge' they each have a specially-designed edge to allow them to slot together.
Let's get to know the noook building discs first.
The noook play basics
noook play is simple:
- Start by slotting discs together—not by the cut outs at the end of each fold—but by the gaps that run around the edge.
- Use the hinge that runs across the centre of each noook disc to make 3D shapes: corners, ridges and more.
- To make a strong flat surface, slot discs together so that the central folds don't align with each other.
After these three basic steps, you can build your dreams. Scroll down to learn more.
The basics
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STEP 1
Get familiar with the building disc
- You connect them by slotting one disc into the edge of another disc. You can do this right around the entire rim of any disc. Think about it like you're weaving the discs together.
- The crease in the centre is to allow you to fold the disc to help you make 3D shapes. We call this part the 'hinge'. Simply bend or fold the disc along this crease. Don't worry if it goes floppy - the hinge won't tear and you can learn more below about how to make discs stiff again.
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STEP 2
Slot discs together
Once you're familiar with a noook building discs, you can start connecting them together to make larger objects.
To connect discs, simply slide the edge of one disc into the edge of another.
Take care to not hold the discs so close to where you are connecting them that you pinch the edge closed.
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STEP 3
Using the hinge
Fold a noook disc along the crease in the centre to make a hinge. This changes its shape. Do this to make corners, edges, or anything that helps make your building 3D!
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STEP 4
Making corners
You've just used the hinge to change the noook discs's shape.
If you connect that disc to a row of other discs, you've just made a corner!
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STEP 5
Locking noook discs together
To make a strong, flat, surface, so that all the noook discs stay stiff even if they have previously been hinged, join them together making sure that the hinges don't line up together.
Start at the bottom
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noook discs on their own won't stand up
Straight rows of noook discs will fall over - that's because there's nothing to support them.
To get discs to stand on their edge, you need to make a corner - something with an angle that changes the direction of the base wall.
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Angles help noook discs to stand up
By using angles and corners in your base walls, your noook discs will then balance on their edges.
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Neat rows of noook discs help make a strong wall
If your noook disc are arranged out of line with each other, or with their hinges bending, the wall will be wobbly.
Try placing your noook discs neat and straight with each other.
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Straight walls are strong walls
Practise making walls out of neat rows of noook discs. You'll quickly find this makes for stronger base walls - and it's easy to do!
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Build strong foundations with triangles and squares
A strong foundation is the key to success - and building dreams. Don't skip this step. Foundations made from shapes that join up all the way around—such as triangles and squares—work really well.
How many triangles can you fit into your building?
Build up
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Pay attention to the direction of the hinge
When the base is complete, you can now start building. Take care to make sure your noook discs don't flop at the hinges – so build upwards with the hinge of each noook disc vertical.
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Flat pillars are likely to wobble
The higher you build a pillar of flat noook discs, the wobblier it will be. So if you want a pillar higher than, say, three noook discs, you’ll need someone to help hold it until you can make it stable…
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Weave pillars in at the corners
… as can be done by connecting two nearby pillars with noook discs making a corner. This makes a much stronger pillar that will support bigger buildings!
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A pillar made of corners is stronger
Use that technique to make an entire pillar - place the pillar on the corner of your building and bend all the nook discs at their hinges.
This type of pillar won't wobble anywhere!
Finish at the top
Connect your corner towers together with beams to tie it all together!
Now you can bring your dreams to life and play!
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You now need to tie your pillars together
Pillars are great - they mean you can build tall. But they need something to hold them more firmly.
This is where arches and beams come in...
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Connect your pillars together with an arch or beam
You can connect your pillars together - just like on your base wall. If you arrange your noook discs into an arch—go up and then down—your building will be even stronger.
That's why big buildings have arches over doorways - arches are very strong!
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Connect onto your pillars from two directions
Folding your noook®discs along their hinge and connecting them onto the pillar, and onto a beam coming off the same pillar, means they're tied together tightly. This helps hold everything up.
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Build together
Ask a friend, your mum or your dad to help you. You'll find it easier if someone holds part of your building up so that you can connect other bits - pillars, arches, beams.
As your building gets bigger, teamwork makes it much easier!
Still have questions?
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