What is Zometool?
Zometool is a construction toy for kids, that is also used by school teachers and advanced research scientists. The main part of the system is a spherical plastic connector node (ball) with 62 geometric holes. The nodes are connected to each other with shape- and color-coded plastic struts (sticks). The angles and strut lengths are mathematically precise and enable users to build thousands of geometric structures. The first impression people tend to have is that Zometool models look like very advanced "Tinker Toy©". Back to top

How is Zometool different from other toys?
With Zometool, a user can build many more kinds of models than with any other construction toys or building systems. Because each connector node has 62 holes, it is possible to build in 62 different directions. Simpler toys like K'Nex© or Tinker Toy© only have 6-10 possible directions from each connector.

Zometool is completely unique in that it is easy enough for a 6-year-old to play with, while at the same time letting adult users build truly mind-boggling models. All the components (strut lengths, combination of holes in the node, angles of building direction etc) are based on a precise mathematical system. Users will never run into dead ends while building, the way they do with other toys. All the pieces automatically line up with each other, so even young children can build advanced models.

Zometool is based on the mathematical building blocks of nature: 2-,3- and 5-fold symmetries and the Golden Proportion.

To learn more about 2-,3- and 5-fold symmetries, the Golden Proportion, and other important science and math within Zometool, visit In-Depth Details (a.k.a The Paul Files) in our Educators section. Back to top

When are children ready for Zometool?
Children from age 6 love to play with Zometool. They start by building simple designs of animals, houses, and free-form designs. Older children and teenagers use the same pieces to build much more advanced designs of rocket ships, crystal flowers, DNA molecules, and architectural designs.

Kids get excited about Zometool because it's fun. It is a great way to introduce challenging ideas in math and science. It is helpful in visualizing abstract concepts. Zometool enhances creativity and understanding of spatial relationships.

Many adults enjoy Zometool both as a relaxing modeling tool and for serious exploration of science and math concepts. This is especially true for people interested in art, engineering, mathematics, computers, and architecture.

Some children younger than 6 can play with Zometool. In order to be able to fit the struts into the holes in the nodes they need to have the same manual dexterity needed to write their name with a pencil. Because of small pieces, Zometool is not for children 3 and under. Back to top

What can I build with the various kits?
Zometool is designed as a geometric exploration toy, rather than being packaged to build specific models. However, it never hurts to have some place to start! Anything in the Manual 2.0 can be built with the Adventurer Kit, and many of those models can be built with the Pioneer Kit. We've just added various model instructions for the different kits. Explore our site to view many of the possibilities!

Why Zometool and not some other modeling material?
Every modeling system has its strengths and limitations. Zometool is however by far the most advanced modeling system currently available and one of the best ways to construct geometric shapes that would be prohibitively time-consuming using balsa, balls and dowels, or (heaven forbid) toothpicks and gumdrops. The pre-set angles for the struts make it easy to simply snap in the pieces. One mathematician told us that he had built a hyperdodecahedron in 4 hours with Zometool. It had taken him several months to do the same thing with wooden rods.

Like many other construction toys, Zometool models are easily dismantled. They can also be glued to make permanent structures. Back to top

What kinds of scientists and designers use Zometool?
Because Zometool replicates so many natural structures and can build so many different geometric designs, it is of great value for many professionals. Mathematicians use Zometool to model everything from networks in discrete mathematics, to group theory, and projection models (shadows) of theoretical 4-dimensional objects. Crystallographers, chemists and material scientists build lattices of natural crystals and quasi-crystalline materials, Buckyballs and other Fullerenes, and models of chromosome bonds and protein molecules. Engineers and computer scientists design space frames, make visual models of data bases, and numerous other uses.

Zometool is also used in corporate team building workshops by corporations such as Kimberly-Clark and Merrill Lynch. Back to top

Where can I get Zometool?
Zometool is available right here online in our Products area, or you can check for a store near you in our Retailers section. Back to top

Where is Zometool made?
Zometool was invented in the United States, and all components are manufactured in Denver, Colorado. Back to top

Wasn't this product called Zome?
Yes it was but Steve Baer, the discoverer of this geometry, felt it was more appropriate to keep the usage of the word Zome within its original context in which a Zome is a home built with this geometry. Back to top

Have you thought of... ?

* Bigger pieces?
* Smaller pieces?
* Motors?
* Longer struts?

Yes. At least, they have been suggested, and we will be taking these sorts of things under consideration in the future. Back to top

What do teachers use Zometool for?
Teachers use Zometool kits to let students explore a wide range of math and science concepts relating to structure and geometry. For elementary students this can include learning angles, area, perimeter, volume, polygon shapes, symmetry patterns, and basic physics concepts. Middle school and high school students use Zometool for more advanced mathematics including polyhedra building, projection modeling, and the algebra of the Golden Proportion. They also model mineral crystals and molecular structures, investigate Fibonacci patterns in biology, and explore structural engineering and architectural design. Utah's MESA Group uses Zometool in its annual, statewide bridge building contest, involving 100 Utah schools.

Learn more about the many uses of Zometool in education. Back to top

What do I teach with Zometool?
Zometool is a versatile manipulative for problem solving and hands-on exploration of math and science concepts related to structure. For elementary school students this includes geometry-based concepts such as polygon shapes, lines and angles, tessellation and pattern recognition, scale and proportion, measurement of perimeters, areas, and volumes, and distinguishing 2 and 3 dimensions. It also allows exploration of how symmetry shapes can be connected to number sense and structure in nature.

Middle school students will expand into more advanced mathematical concepts and how these concepts are manifested in science and technology. Here, we have classical geometry such as the study of solids and 3-dimensional packing, and how these can be found in everything from mineral crystals to plankton and viruses. They will also use Zometool to study number patterns, ratios and irrational numbers, projection modeling, and basic structural engineering.

High school students will study more advanced aspects of geometry, such as complex solids, polytopes, fractal patterns, and topology. They will work on Fibonacci numbers and the Golden Mean including the interesting trigonometry and algebra that relates to these concepts. In science classes they will model DNA molecules, Buckyballs, honeycombs, and crystalline lattices. They will also work on design technology including stress forces and building economics. Back to top

What grade level is Zometool appropriate for?
Zometool is appropriate for 1st grade through university level. Zometool is unique in that it can be used effectively by students as young as 6 and at the same time for research by high-end scientists. Zometool is easy enough that a 1st greader won't get frustrated while it allows enough complexity to keep the interest of even the most advanced high school student. You can choose from a range of products that satisfy everybody's drive to explore. Back to top

What kinds of support materials are available?
The bigger kits include Manual 2.0, a color booklet, which includes descriptions of models, how Zometool works and how it relates to various science concepts.

Comprehensive step-by-step building instructions are inluded in other kits.

Zometool Lesson Plans 1.0 contains 64 easy-to-follow, math-based activities with art, architecture, biology, physics, and technology extensions. The plans, which meet NCTM standards and contain assessment guides, are sold separately, or at a discount when purchased with the Creator/Theacher's Kit (in the Teacher's Bundle).

Click here for more information on lesson plans. From this link you'll also be able to download Zometool Lesson Plans 1.0 free of charge.

Lesson plans in printed form are available in the Literature section of our product shopping area.

Additional Zometool literature includes Zometool Geometry. This is a supplemental teacher's guide for grade 8 through freshman college geometry. Written to go hand-in-hand with the Zometool Advanced Math Kit, this is the first book that gives building activities using the green lines. The book is sold separately, or at a discount when purchased with the Advanced Math Kit (in the Advanced Math Bundle).

Zometool Primer is theorist Steve Baer's comprehensive exploration of Zometool geometry, written for advanced users. Zometool Primer is sold separately.

Visit our Literature Products to view all printed material (and DVDs) available in conjunction with Zometool. Back to top

What kind of training is available?
Zometooltool offers workshops at various teacher conferences around the country. We have started to train trainers in other states who will offer similar programs there. We also participate in training institutes arranged by school districts and universities in other states. Contact Yasu Kizaki (yasu@Zometooltool.com) at Zometooltool for more information. Back to top

What size kit do I need?
Usually one Teacher's Bundle per 12 students allows for independent participation in the 64 lesson plans. One Adventurer Kit allows for participation of two or three students. Back to top

What grade level are the lesson plans written for?
The plans are divided into 3 separate sections for "basic concepts," "intermediate concepts," and "advanced concepts." Primary grade students will work with the first plans in the "basic" section, while 5th graders will probably push into the "intermediate" plans. Middle school teachers will use the "basic concept" plans for review and work with most of the "intermediate" ones. High schoolers will review some "basics" and explore all "intermediate" and "advanced" plans in depth. Back to top

Do the lesson plans come with every kit?
No. The Lesson Plan document is too large to include in the kits without raising prices unnecessarily. They are sold separately or at a discount when purchased with the Creator/Theacher's Kit (in the Teacher's Bundle).

We do provide PDF files of the Lesson Plan for download free of charge here. Back to top

Which size kit should I buy?
The biggest one you can afford! You can choose from a range of products that satisfy everybody's drive to explore. Visit our Products shopping area to see what's available.

Each product contains descriptive information about the type and quantity of pieces that are included and the possible shapes and objects which are able to be built. Incredible mathmatical and scientific exploration is possible with even our smallest kits. You can make fantastically crazy bubbles with even the most basic geometric shapes. Of course, if you desire is to build a geometric dome the size of a house you might need to have the pieces from a few sets on hand. Rest assured, any amount of Zometool will be fun! Back to top

Do the kits come with instructions?
Yes, all kits include some form of instructions. Back to top

What kits are appropriate for what age levels?
Zometool is appropriate for 1st grade through university level. Zometool is unique in that it can be used effectively by children as young as 6 and at the same time for research by high-end scientists. Zometool is easy enough that a 1st greader won't get frustrated while it allows enough complexity to keep the interest of even the most advanced high school student. Back to top

Can I buy parts separately?
Yes. To purchase parts (nodes and struts) separately just click "Parts" in our Products area. Back to top

Can I get balls in different colors?
Sure. The many colors of nodes are available in the Parts section. Back to top

What are the green struts used for?
Combined with other Zometool Kits, Zometool GreenLines expand the Zometool System offering new angles, new structures and a world of new possibilities. Zometool GreenLines are fully compatible with all current Zometool components. Back to top

Greenlines take the already impressive 62 building directions of Zometool to an astounding 122 possible directions from just one node! Back to top

Do the green struts make the kit I have obsolete?
Nope. The green struts are fully compatible. Go ahead and expand your Zometool horizons with the green struts! Back to top

How many holes are in the connectors?
Each connector node has 62 holes. 12 are pentagonal (red & green), 20 triangular (yellow) and 30 rectangular (blue). Back to top

How do I know that Zometool is a quality product?
Zometool has received 19 major toy and educational awards including:

* Oppenheim Toy Portfolio "Gold Seal Award"
* Dr. Toy "100 Best Children's Products"
* National Parenting Center "Seal of Approval"
* Parent's Guide to Children's Media "Outstanding Achievement in Toys"

Over 6,000 schools around the United States as well as other countries use Zometool to teach concepts in art, science, and mathematics. Educators like Zometool because their students love to work with the system, and because they can teach so many different concepts with it. (Lesson Plans are available.) Zometool is even used by Nobel Prize winning scientists, NASA and Sandia National Labs engineers, and professors at Yale, MIT, Stanford, and other universities. Zometool is a product kids will use for many years for fun, learning, and in some cases for scientific discovery. Back to top