Is SOMA only a pastime puzzle, well - Not if I shall judge from the amount of Emails I receive from school and university teachers.

In my opinion the SOMA puzzle is an excellent tool in education.
+ It will help to show spatial geometry, without resorting to complex shapes.
+ It will allow the children to play.! A vital experience in grasping the differences of 2D and 3D.
+ It can be used in arts classes too, to teach methods of drawing 3 dimensional shapes, as well as their 2D projections.
+ In higher classes it can be used to teach geometric drawings, with its requirements for isometric or perspectivistic methods, as well as teaching the rules for 'Machine' drawings using US. or ISO. standards.

I think I will let some of the teachers in the world speak for themselves:
So here is a small set of the letters:

• I am a Swiss teacher for children, 9-10 years old. We use the Somacube at school. It's in our new method of teaching.
  Irène Chappuis

• I teach in New Zealand at 'Glenview' Porirua (a suburb of the capital city Wellington.) The children I have this year are 10 and 11 years old. Part of our Geometry Study at this level deals with making as well as drawing 3 D shapes. Soma cube constructions are great for both of these tasks and most children are keen to give them a go. Some will persevere for a lengthy period of time. Whenever there is an opportunity for my class to play with Maths games, soma cubes are the first puzzles out. Not only do the children like doing these, but I sit along side and do the puzzles also. Great time to show that teachers don't know everything.
  Gaylene Hill <glenviewpor@xtra.co.nz>

• My wife and I are Professors at the University of Costa Rica, our work includes working in mathematics education at UCR. and in Costa Rican public primary schools.
  We have been using Piet Hein's Soma cube for more than twenty years.
  We are also members of the committee that conducts the Costa Rican Mathematical Olympiad for Primary Schools (OMCEP). Where we include questions about the Soma cube.
  Victor & Maria Bujan <vmbujan@sol.racsa.co.cr>

• I am a teacher of mathematics at the middle scool (HAVO/VWO). I am very interested in making popular mathematics and puzzles.
  Hein van Winkel <hj.winkel@wxs.nl>

- submitted by Thorleif Bundgård <bundgard@post8.tele.dk>