A simple geoboard is not only an awesome STEM activity but it is also a wonderful tool for encouraging fine motor skills! This DIY geoboard is so simple to make and will only cost you a few dollars. Create geometric shapes and patterns in minutes. We love a simple geoboard for preschool math activities.

Pin

How To Make A Geoboard

A real pumpkin geoboard is a fun alternative to our DIY geoboard below.

Supplies:

  • Wooden Board {I purchased this for about $2 from the wood crafting section of craft stores or use what you have left from another project!}
  • Nails
  • Rubber Bands
  • Ruler or Tape Measure
  • Pencil
geo board homemade set upPin

Instructions:

STEP 1. Choose a piece of cardboard or a wooden board as the base for your geoboard. The size can vary based on your preference, but a square or rectangular shape is typical. Ensure that the board is sturdy enough to withstand the pressure from the rubber bands.

STEP 2. Using a ruler and a pencil, mark the positions where you want to place the pegs. For a simple start, create a grid of evenly spaced points. A common geoboard might have a 5×5 or 8×8 grid.

STEP 3. If you’re using push pins, insert them into the marked points on the board. Make sure they are firmly in place, leaving enough height for attaching rubber bands. If you’re using small nails, hammer them into the marked points.

STEP 4. Once all the pegs are in place, you’ll have a grid on your board. The spacing between pegs should be consistent to facilitate the creation of geometric shapes.

STEP 5. Gather a variety of rubber bands. Different sizes and thicknesses can add versatility to the geoboard.

STEP 5. Encourage your child to use the rubber bands to create various shapes on the geoboard. They can make squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, and more. Experimenting with different arrangements will help reinforce geometric concepts. See our list of geoboard patterns above for ideas.

geo board homemade examining shapesPin

Use A Homemade Geoboard For STEM Play

Make our homemade geoboard for fine motor skills practice and STEM learning!

Using a geoboard in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activity engages students in hands-on exploration of geometric concepts. It promotes spatial reasoning, problem-solving, and mathematical thinking as students manipulate rubber bands to create various shapes, encouraging a practical application of STEM principles in a visually intuitive way.

Read More: What is STEM?

What Is A Geoboard?

A geoboard is a mathematical manipulative used to explore basic concepts in geometry, such as shapes, symmetry, area, and perimeter. Using a geoboard is an excellent way for young kids to explore and understand various mathematical concepts. Here are some key math concepts that children can learn through geoboard activities:

Geometry

Shapes: Geoboards provide a hands-on opportunity for children to create and recognize basic shapes such as squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles.

Symmetry: Kids can explore the concept of symmetry by creating symmetrical designs on the geoboard. This helps them understand the balance and mirror images.

Spatial Awareness

Geoboards help develop spatial awareness as children navigate the grid of pegs, exploring concepts like position, direction, and distance.

Measurement

Children can use the geoboard to measure the sides of shapes they create. This introduces them to the concept of length and comparisons.

Counting and Number Sense

The grid structure of the geoboard provides a structured environment for counting. Children can count the number of pegs or rubber bands, helping develop their number sense.

Patterns

Geoboards are excellent tools for exploring and creating patterns. Kids can experiment with different arrangements of rubber bands to create repeating patterns.

Make sure to check out our growing list of preschool math activities!

Geoboard Patterns You Can Make

These patterns below are a great starting point for exploring geometric concepts with a geoboard. Encourage children to experiment and create designs as they gain confidence.

Square: Use rubber bands to form a square on the geoboard by connecting four pegs that create a square shape.

Triangle: Create a triangle by connecting three pegs with a rubber band. You can make equilateral, isosceles, or scalene triangles.

Rectangle: Form a rectangle on the geoboard by connecting four pegs with rubber bands. Adjust the sides to explore different size rectangles.

Pentagon: Connect five pegs to form a pentagon on the geoboard. Experiment with different arrangements to create various pentagon shapes.

Hexagon: Use rubber bands to connect six pegs, forming a hexagon. Explore regular and irregular hexagons.

Star: Create a star shape by connecting pegs in a way that forms a star. This can be a more intricate and visually interesting pattern.

Letter Shapes: Spell out letters of the alphabet using rubber bands on the geoboard. This is a fun way to combine literacy and geometry.

Symmetrical Patterns: Experiment with symmetrical designs. Place rubber bands on one side of the geoboard, then replicate the same pattern on the other to create symmetry.

Concentric Circles: Use rubber bands to create concentric circles by stretching them around pegs in circular patterns. This demonstrates the concept of circles with different radii.

Geometric Animals: Get creative and use the geoboard to form geometric representations of animals. For example, you can make a fish by connecting pegs in a fish-like shape.

geo board homemade extrasPin

More Geoboard Patterns To Explore

Free Printable Geoboard Alphabet Cards

Pair these free Geoboard Alphabet Cards with a homemade geoboard.

More Fun Math Activities For Young Learners

Printable Preschool Bundle Theme Pack

Get ready to explore this year with our growing Preschool STEM Bundle!

What’s Included:

There are 12 fun preschool themes to get you started. This is an ” I can explore” series! BONUS: This is a growing bundle. You will be sent all future updates.

Each unit contains approximately 15 activities, with instructions and templates as needed. Hands-on activities are provided to keep it fun and exciting. This includes sensory bins, experiments, games, and more! Easy supplies keep it low cost, and book suggestions add to the learning time. 

13 Comments

  1. This is great! And my husband would *totally* love to make this for our son! I’ll send him the link… 😉

  2. Awesome! I could totally do this! I think my daughter would get such a kick out of making shapes and letters. You’re right we probably do have a suitable piece of wood laying around! Off to pin!

  3. I think I have an un-used plaque that I could do this on– great idea! We have a super tiny one, but I like how big this is so you can make lots of cool shapes/ designs on it! Must. Do!!

  4. I never really knew why geo boards were important but seeing all the awesome fine motor work going on in these pics makes me want one too! Time to nag, um, I mean, ask kindly, for my husband to work on one! lol

  5. Totally want to make a geo board now! I’m sure Caden would love helping to make it & playing with it! I think this is going on the DIY Christmas gift list! 🙂

  6. This is a great eye-hand coordination activity as well as fine motor. We use geoboards regularly in our vision therapy clinic. In addition to having the child create shapes on her own, you can make two and have her copy your shapes (we use a clear plastic geoboard with the same peg spacing for this purpose– put your clear one on top to confirm whether it matches).

    Keep up the great work!
    Amanda

  7. Love this project! So many different ways to use the board… Perfect for developing fine motor and visual processing skills.

  8. Great post. I have linked you up on my blog as I was looking for a good DIY example to show. 🙂 http://www.montessoriandme.com.au/fine-motor/geo-board-buzz/

  9. I don’t really get the point but this is creativity. You can design anything using rubber bands here. This is bringing out your imagination. This helps mental ability to create things.

  10. Geo boards are certainly about creativity but they also introduce the basics of geometry and shapes. They are also great for encouraging fine motor skills. A fun way to learn with inexpensive materials that is very hands-on. Plus kids can help build their own is applicable. Thanks for visiting.

  11. Pingback: Make This a DIY Summer, Part Three: Math Manipulatives & Centers — Educational Resource Report

Comments are closed.