Rubik's Cube Celebrates 30th Anniversary; New Program Empowers Youth to Solve the Cube

NEW YORK, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Rubik's Cube, one of the most beloved and best-selling puzzles of all time, celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year, the next generation of fans are cracking the code to this three-decade old icon.  With the help of the new You CAN Do The Rubik's Cube initiative, thousands of youths from schools, camps and after-school programs nationwide are accomplishing the unthinkable -- solving the cube one fun twist at a time, while learning about algebra, geometry, and determination.  And now, anyone, including parents, teachers, and students alike, can ring in the New Year by making their own "Rubik's Resolution," a pledge to learn how to solve the cube, gaining critical thinking skills and a sense of triumph along the way.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100125/NE42244 )

How you can pledge a "Rubik's Resolution":

• Youth:  The new You CAN Do The Rubik's Cube online portal features a downloadable step-by-step solution guide for unlocking the secrets to the 3x3 Rubik's Cube.  Online cube communities like Facebook, YouTube, and YouCanDoTheCube.com allow participants to share Rubik's Cube experiences.
• Educators:  Lesson plans with a math twist show teachers and youth leaders how to use the Rubik's Cube as a memorization, sequencing, and problem solving tool.  The You CAN Do The Rubik's Cube solution guide and lesson plans have been designed to help educators engage youth with hands-on education activities and are aligned with standards set by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.  
• Parents:  After-school and weekend Rubik's activities foster life lessons such as problem-solving, negotiation, and teamwork, and provide an interactive, tangible way for youth to learn fundamental math disciplines like fractions and measurement.  

"The Rubik's cube program has taught our students invaluable critical thinking skills and has boosted their confidence immeasurably," said Cindy Caruso, citywide afterschool and summer camp coordinator at New York City's Parks and Recreation Department.  "We look forward to our upcoming tournament."

Thirty years after its introduction to America by Erno Rubik, the Rubik's Cube today is being used to teach important math concepts including area, perimeter, volume, angles, algorithms and enumeration, among many other geometry and algebra topics.  To date, the You CAN Do The Rubik's Cube program is used as an education tool and confidence booster in thousands of schools K-12 in 48 states across the U.S. and in over 100 Boys & Girls Clubs of America and YMCA after-school programs.  With the launch of the new You CAN Do The Rubik's Cube "Competition Guide," dozens of schools have hosted regional competitions as well.

The "You CAN Do The Rubik's Cube" solution kits available to schools, camps, and after-school programs include 12 Rubik's Cubes, 12 solution guides, an instructional DVD, cube sign-out sheets, posters, stickers, and award certificates for when a child solves the puzzle.  

For more information, and to learn how to bring the "You CAN Do The Rubik's Cube" program to a local school or youth organization, visit www.YouCanDoTheCube.com.

About You CAN Do The Rubik's Cube

Since its release in 1980, the Rubik's Cube has since found its way into over 350 million homes worldwide and has continued to fascinate, bewilder and challenge millions of people. The new You CAN Do The Rubik's Cube initiative is a U.S. campaign aimed at teaching youth how to solve the Rubik's Cube and experience the many benefits of this accomplishment.  Math lessons have been designed to use the Rubik's Cube to help teachers engage students with an interactive and tangible way to learn the many math disciplines.

Rubik's Cube® is a registered trademark of Seven Towns Ltd.

SOURCE Rubik's Cube