A simple geo board is not only an awesome STEM activity but it is also a wonderful tool for encouraging fine motor skills! This DIY geo board is so simple to make and will only cost you a few dollars. Create geometric shapes and patterns in minutes. We love a simple geo board for young kids math activities.
SIMPLE GEO BOARD YOU CAN MAKE!
GEO BOARDS FOR STEM PLAYÂ
Make our homemade Geo Board for fine motor skills practice and STEM learning! What is STEM?, read all about it! Science, technology, engineering, and math are so important to expose our kids to at an early age. Projects like this simple geo board are the perfect start! This is a quick, easy, and inexpensive project. The result is an awesome and fun learning toy to use over and over again! Check out how we used it for Valentines Day!
We love making homemade toys like our Popsicle Stick Catapults and Lego Zip Line!
GEO BOARDS FOR FINE MOTOR SKILLS
We have explored geo boards at a few at different children’s museums in the past, and I have always kept it in the back of my mind as a good project to make. These boards are awesome for creating art, exploring shapes, and developing visual skills. Did you know, they are also super for working on fine motor skills! You can’t make a shape until you can get the rubber bands around the nails!
SIMPLE GEO BOARD SUPPLIES
Wooden Board {I purchased this for about $2 from the wood crafting section of craft stores or use what you have leftover from another project!}
Nails
Rubber Bands
Ruler or Tape Measure
Pencil
It does not matter what shape the board is. We also had 1″ nails in the tool box. My wonderful husband measured and hammered for me the other day. He made roughly 1.5″ squares. I added a package of dollar store collared rubber bands.
HOW DOES A GEO BOARD WORK?
Look at those little fingers go to work. He is actually enjoying it, creating shapes, working hand muscles, developing spatial skills, and practicing fine motor skills. Quite an activity that didn’t take much to make and so little money to make!
ALSO CHECK OUT OUR: Real Pumpkin Geo Board
We worked on making different shapes together. I was pleased that he was so busy with the rubber bands and winding them around the nails. There are many additional activities you can add to geo boards like creating more complex shapes, letters, or pictures. I was pleased that he was interested in familiarizing himself with how it worked, and he worked hard to put all the rubber bands on in different ways.
ALSO MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT: A Year of Easy STEM Activities for Kids
A while ago we had made a guitar out of the same rubber bands and a loaf pan. He remembered that and tested out the rubber bands to see if they made music on our geo board. Above he is strumming the bands. This led him to remove all the bands and make a new “guitar”.
ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT:Â Building LEGO Numbers!
A DIY SIMPLE GEO BOARD FOR KID’S STEM LEARNING IDEAS
Click on the photo below to check out awesome fine motor and science play together!Â
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Emma
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
littlebins
So easy to make! He will be able to do it in no time at all! Haha!
Georgina @ Craftulate
This is great! And my husband would *totally* love to make this for our son! I’ll send him the link… 😉
Laura M
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!
Kristina @ SchoolTimeSnippets
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!!
Samantha @ Stir the Wonder
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! 🙂
Dyan
I love how your geo board turned out. Pinned!
Amanda
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
Anne @ Left Brain Craft Brain
Love this project! So many different ways to use the board… Perfect for developing fine motor and visual processing skills.
Montessori and Me
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/
Richard
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.
littlebins
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.