Cubing Club?

NeoBridgeburn

Regular
Joined
Apr 21, 2020
Messages
114
Location
👀
I'm in middle school and I want to start a cubing club after coronavirus. I wanna teach kids 2 to 3 puzzles in 8 weeks. We'll meet once a week for 8 weeks straight. Which puzzles and how many? (3 by 3 is a given, what about the other 1/2 puzzles). Also, what should I do about memorising algorithms?

Advice much appreciated.
 
I have personally been teaching kids (elementary and middle) how to solve through zoom. So far out of around 10 who attempted, 5 have been able to solve (In two 2 hour zoom sessions). I personally used the method of cross, first layer corners (I didn't use the R' D' R D thing since doing it intuitievely is more benefitial in the long run though harder to learn at first), middle layer edges, yellow cross, orient corners, permute corners, then permute edges. I find this way of doing it makes transitioning to a more advance method easier

I recommend you to print out an alg sheet. I feel the ammount of time given is more than enough to learn how to solve.

As for puzzles I recommend, 2x2 and pyraminx. 2x2 can be learned without new algs if they know how to solve a 3x3. Pyraminx can be solves 100% intuitively. and I find very simple once you know how to make the first layer.
 
I created a variation on beginners method that requires only sexy and lefty sexy, as well as no notation. It doesn't really give the student much understanding of the cube, but it works. Here it is:

Sexy and Lefty Sexy - First, the student needs to learn these. The way I teach it is by remembering that the sexy move goes "Up Over Down Back", and lefty sexy going "Up Back Down Over"

Cross/Daisy - Taught like normal

1st Layer Corners - With cross on bottom, solve the corners by placing them over the slot they need to go in and using sexy move

Middle edges - Line up a middle edge(edge that doesn't have yellow), matching the color up against its center, making a bar of sorts. Then look if it needs to go to the right or the left, move it away(U/U') from where it needs to go, then do the algorithm that starts on the opposite side of where it needs to go(if it needs to go to the left, move the piece to the right and do normal sexy because it starts on the right). Then rotate away from where the piece needs to go and do the other algorithm(if the piece needs to go to the right, move it to the left, do lefty sexy, rotate to the left, do sexy). Then repeat for all edges

Orient Edges - Get the LL cross by setting up the case correctly(adjacent pieces in the back/left, line horizontal, dot however) then move the front face, do sexy, move the front face back. Then repeat until LL cross is done

Permute Edges - Solve the edges by taking the pair out (R U R'), doing sexy, then putting the pair back(R U' R'). I can't remember how to setup each case(2 adjacent permuted, 2 opposite permutes, none permuted), just do a couple setups yourself to figure it out.

Orient corners - Put LL on bottom, then align the bottom layer so that there is an unoriented edge in the bottom right(don't rotate the cube, just do D moves). Then do sexy until it's oriented, align D so the unoriented is in bottom right, do sexy a bunch, etc. Keep in mind that F2L will mess up while doing that, but it will naturally fix itself(I'll explain why in a spoiler below if you care)

Permute corners - With LL on bottom, set up the corners the same way as before(except you but an incorrectly permuted corner in D/R/F spot instead of unoriented). Then take the corner out(R U R'), move the correct spot underneath(use edges for reference, and don't rotate, only use D moves), then put that corner back(R U' R'). Then keep putting in the next corner(alternating between R U R' and R U' R'(which can be taught intuitively)) until it's solved. If you end up with all LL corners on the bottom but some of them incorrectly permuted, just take one of those out(make sure not to use the same move(R U R'/R U' R') twice in a row, you have to alternate) and put it where it belongs.

That's it :)

Doing R U R' U' will naturally mess up the two layers done already, but doing sexy*6 will restore everything again. Because of how the cube works, the sum of clockwise corner twists needed to orient all corners will be a multiple of three. Also, the cube cannot have an odd parity, and since the edges and the rest of the corners will all be solved at that point, the times you need to do R U R' U' will also be even. Since the number of times you have to do the sexy move will be a multiple 3 and also be even, it will always be a multiple of 6. Since doing R U R' U' 6 times does nothing to a cube and the number of times to do sexy will always be a multiple 6, the F2L will end up being restored(since you do D moves, the D layer won't be the same). You can't do rotations because doing sexy from six different angles isn't the same as doing it with different setups on D
 
I created a variation on beginners method that requires only sexy and lefty sexy, as well as no notation. It doesn't really give the student much understanding of the cube, but it works. Here it is:

Sexy and Lefty Sexy - First, the student needs to learn these. The way I teach it is by remembering that the sexy move goes "Up Over Down Back", and lefty sexy going "Up Back Down Over"

Cross/Daisy - Taught like normal

1st Layer Corners - With cross on bottom, solve the corners by placing them over the slot they need to go in and using sexy move

Middle edges - Line up a middle edge(edge that doesn't have yellow), matching the color up against its center, making a bar of sorts. Then look if it needs to go to the right or the left, move it away(U/U') from where it needs to go, then do the algorithm that starts on the opposite side of where it needs to go(if it needs to go to the left, move the piece to the right and do normal sexy because it starts on the right). Then rotate away from where the piece needs to go and do the other algorithm(if the piece needs to go to the right, move it to the left, do lefty sexy, rotate to the left, do sexy). Then repeat for all edges

Orient Edges - Get the LL cross by setting up the case correctly(adjacent pieces in the back/left, line horizontal, dot however) then move the front face, do sexy, move the front face back. Then repeat until LL cross is done

Permute Edges - Solve the edges by taking the pair out (R U R'), doing sexy, then putting the pair back(R U' R'). I can't remember how to setup each case(2 adjacent permuted, 2 opposite permutes, none permuted), just do a couple setups yourself to figure it out.

Orient corners - Put LL on bottom, then align the bottom layer so that there is an unoriented edge in the bottom right(don't rotate the cube, just do D moves). Then do sexy until it's oriented, align D so the unoriented is in bottom right, do sexy a bunch, etc. Keep in mind that F2L will mess up while doing that, but it will naturally fix itself(I'll explain why in a spoiler below if you care)

Permute corners - With LL on bottom, set up the corners the same way as before(except you but an incorrectly permuted corner in D/R/F spot instead of unoriented). Then take the corner out(R U R'), move the correct spot underneath(use edges for reference, and don't rotate, only use D moves), then put that corner back(R U' R'). Then keep putting in the next corner(alternating between R U R' and R U' R'(which can be taught intuitively)) until it's solved. If you end up with all LL corners on the bottom but some of them incorrectly permuted, just take one of those out(make sure not to use the same move(R U R'/R U' R') twice in a row, you have to alternate) and put it where it belongs.

That's it :)

Doing R U R' U' will naturally mess up the two layers done already, but doing sexy*6 will restore everything again. Because of how the cube works, the sum of clockwise corner twists needed to orient all corners will be a multiple of three. Also, the cube cannot have an odd parity, and since the edges and the rest of the corners will all be solved at that point, the times you need to do R U R' U' will also be even. Since the number of times you have to do the sexy move will be a multiple 3 and also be even, it will always be a multiple of 6. Since doing R U R' U' 6 times does nothing to a cube and the number of times to do sexy will always be a multiple 6, the F2L will end up being restored(since you do D moves, the D layer won't be the same). You can't do rotations because doing sexy from six different angles isn't the same as doing it with different setups on D
I think it would be simplier to just learn two algs (Insert edge and sune).
 
I think it would be simplier to just learn two algs (Insert edge and sune).

Learning algs is hard as a beginner, you basically have to brute memorize. Also you'd need two for edge insertion, one for EO, one for CO, one for CP, and one for EP if you're doing the typical beginners
 
Learning algs is hard as a beginner, you basically have to brute memorize. Also you'd need two for edge insertion, one for EO, one for CO, one for CP, and one for EP if you're doing the typical beginners
It's just a mirror of the other edge insertion alg. If you learn by watching F2L pieces (the easiest way IMO), then you don't have to learn the other one, just apply the same F2L knowledge. For LL, you can just do this: EO: F (sexy) F' (0 algs), EP: Sune (1 alg), CO: R' D', R, D (0 algs), CP: Use R' D' R and R' D R (kinda like beginner's CP mega). That's 1 alg. If you don't want to learn that kind of CP, you can also do CP first with Niklas, then the same CO. The nice thing is is that those 2-3 algs (Sune, insert edge, Niklas) are probably the 3 easiest algs to learn. Insert edge is pretty intuitive (do one trigger to make the F2L pair, then just insert it), Sune is just switching between R/R' between U U U2, and Niklas is the simplest, just put one F2L pair into the LL, then another (right beside it), then just insert them back.
 
I created a variation on beginners method that requires only sexy and lefty sexy, as well as no notation. It doesn't really give the student much understanding of the cube, but it works. Here it is:

Sexy and Lefty Sexy - First, the student needs to learn these. The way I teach it is by remembering that the sexy move goes "Up Over Down Back", and lefty sexy going "Up Back Down Over"

Cross/Daisy - Taught like normal

1st Layer Corners - With cross on bottom, solve the corners by placing them over the slot they need to go in and using sexy move

Middle edges - Line up a middle edge(edge that doesn't have yellow), matching the color up against its center, making a bar of sorts. Then look if it needs to go to the right or the left, move it away(U/U') from where it needs to go, then do the algorithm that starts on the opposite side of where it needs to go(if it needs to go to the left, move the piece to the right and do normal sexy because it starts on the right). Then rotate away from where the piece needs to go and do the other algorithm(if the piece needs to go to the right, move it to the left, do lefty sexy, rotate to the left, do sexy). Then repeat for all edges

Orient Edges - Get the LL cross by setting up the case correctly(adjacent pieces in the back/left, line horizontal, dot however) then move the front face, do sexy, move the front face back. Then repeat until LL cross is done

Permute Edges - Solve the edges by taking the pair out (R U R'), doing sexy, then putting the pair back(R U' R'). I can't remember how to setup each case(2 adjacent permuted, 2 opposite permutes, none permuted), just do a couple setups yourself to figure it out.

Orient corners - Put LL on bottom, then align the bottom layer so that there is an unoriented edge in the bottom right(don't rotate the cube, just do D moves). Then do sexy until it's oriented, align D so the unoriented is in bottom right, do sexy a bunch, etc. Keep in mind that F2L will mess up while doing that, but it will naturally fix itself(I'll explain why in a spoiler below if you care)

Permute corners - With LL on bottom, set up the corners the same way as before(except you but an incorrectly permuted corner in D/R/F spot instead of unoriented). Then take the corner out(R U R'), move the correct spot underneath(use edges for reference, and don't rotate, only use D moves), then put that corner back(R U' R'). Then keep putting in the next corner(alternating between R U R' and R U' R'(which can be taught intuitively)) until it's solved. If you end up with all LL corners on the bottom but some of them incorrectly permuted, just take one of those out(make sure not to use the same move(R U R'/R U' R') twice in a row, you have to alternate) and put it where it belongs.

That's it :)

Doing R U R' U' will naturally mess up the two layers done already, but doing sexy*6 will restore everything again. Because of how the cube works, the sum of clockwise corner twists needed to orient all corners will be a multiple of three. Also, the cube cannot have an odd parity, and since the edges and the rest of the corners will all be solved at that point, the times you need to do R U R' U' will also be even. Since the number of times you have to do the sexy move will be a multiple 3 and also be even, it will always be a multiple of 6. Since doing R U R' U' 6 times does nothing to a cube and the number of times to do sexy will always be a multiple 6, the F2L will end up being restored(since you do D moves, the D layer won't be the same). You can't do rotations because doing sexy from six different angles isn't the same as doing it with different setups on D
Corners and Edges seems similar to J Perms teaching style.
 
I have personally been teaching kids (elementary and middle) how to solve through zoom. So far out of around 10 who attempted, 5 have been able to solve (In two 2 hour zoom sessions). I personally used the method of cross, first layer corners (I didn't use the R' D' R D thing since doing it intuitievely is more benefitial in the long run though harder to learn at first), middle layer edges, yellow cross, orient corners, permute corners, then permute edges. I find this way of doing it makes transitioning to a more advance method easier

I recommend you to print out an alg sheet. I feel the ammount of time given is more than enough to learn how to solve.

As for puzzles I recommend, 2x2 and pyraminx. 2x2 can be learned without new algs if they know how to solve a 3x3. Pyraminx can be solves 100% intuitively. and I find very simple once you know how to make the first layer.
Thanks. Noted
 
For supplies I think I should start them off with budget cubes so that their parents dont feel any financial strain. I started looking for cubes but the cheapest cubes in my area are the Yuxin black kylins for pyraminx and 3x3 and the YJ Guan Po for 2x2 any
comments on quality?
 
Wait, you are having them buy cubes? I'm not sure if that is the best move. Are you charging for the club?
At my school we have to charge for clubs. The school gets a cut, and I get a cut, but mostly just for supplies. Besides at the end of the term I'm gonna ask the really dedicated kids if they want a speedcube, and if they can solve 3x3 in 2 mins, I'm gonna use my own profit to by them a cube of their choice.
 
For supplies I think I should start them off with budget cubes so that their parents dont feel any financial strain. I started looking for cubes but the cheapest cubes in my area are the Yuxin black kylins for pyraminx and 3x3 and the YJ Guan Po for 2x2 any
comments on quality?
I think anything works when you're well over a minute.
 
Back
Top