Geoboards are one of the most versatile tools in a homeschool mom or teacher’s toolkit. They can be used to teach geometry, arithmetic, and even literacy concepts all while strengthening a child’s fine motor skills. And geoboard patterns and activities are not just for educators! Parents can use geoboards to help kids learn basic math skills and explore geometry concepts. Here are some ideas for using a geoboard to help kids learn and have fun.
What is a Geoboard?
A geoboard is a math manipulative used to help visualize concepts in geometry, algebra, and so much more. The geoboard is typically a square or rectangular board with pegs arranged in rows and columns. The pegs are used to hold rubber bands, which can be stretched around the pegs to create.
What Age is a Geoboard For?
Geoboards are always developmentally appropriate! A geoboard can be used by kids of all ages and grades. A younger child may simply just stretch rubberbands while exploring their fine motor abilities, while an elementary child can use the geoboard to create various shapes and designs, and older kids can use the geoboard to visualize more complex mathematical concepts such as perimeter and symmetry. It’s incredibly easy to adapt a geoboard to whatever learning stage your child is at!
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What Do Kids Learn From Geoboard Mats?
Geoboards can be used to teach a variety of math concepts through creating different shapes, including geometry, algebra, and even key math skills such as basic counting. Because of the versatility of geoboards I love using them for exploring math and they are one of my favorite manipulatives to keep in my own math centers.
A geoboard can also be used to teach other skills, such as fine motor skills and spatial reasoning. With a little creativity you can even use geoboards to teach early reading, abcs, and literacy skills!
How is a Geoboard Different Than Other STEM and Math Manipulatives?
Geoboards are unique in that they can be used to create both 2D and 3D shapes. Other math manipulatives, such as pattern blocks, can only be used to create 2D shapes. Geoboards are also more of a challenge for little hands.
Geoboards can also be a STEM building project on their own! Unlike other math manipulatives, kids can make their own geoboard. You can make a homemade geoboard using pushpins or nails arranged on a wood square. Want to get even more creative? Make geoboards for random items (for an idea check out our geoboard gourd!)
Items Needed to Use Geoboard Pattern Cards
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- Geoboard Peg Boards or a DIY Geoboard
- Cups of Rubber Bands
- Cardstock
- Laminator
- Binder Ring (suggested for keeping your printed PDF geoboards together)
Geoboard Task Cards and Worksheets to Download
Below you will find all of the geoboard printables we have available in our shop. All of our geoboard lessons include colorful task cards to go with their full geoboard mat. For the best experience each geoboard template packet also includes a simple version as well as a harder version for older students. A black line example is also available for the different cards and geoboard pattern mats to help guide kids.
You can find all of our printable geoboard pattern activities here.
Geoboard Math Mat Skills Included
- Each mat includes either or easy and difficult picture
- Count and tally on the easy follow-up worksheet
- Addition problems are included on the hard follow-up worksheet
- Exploration of different angles
- Tracing and writing
- Using a geoboard shape mat to create an image graph
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