A simple geo board is not only an awesome STEM activity but it is also a wonderful tool for encouraging fine motor skills! Why not create heart geoboard patterns for a simple but effective Valentine’s Day math activity. Simple materials, low cost, and plenty of fun, a homemade geoboard can be reused in so many ways all year long.

Valentine's Day heart geoboard math and STEM activity for kidsPin

What is a Geoboard?

A geoboard is a mathematical manipulative tool consisting of a square or rectangular board with a certain number of pegs or nails arranged in a grid pattern. The pegs are evenly spaced, creating a series of intersections where rubber bands or stretchable bands can be looped to form geometric shapes.

Make A DIY Geoboard

My husband made me this incredible gem of a geoboard a couple of years ago. I can’t tell you how often it is used for play or quiet time.

It costs just a few dollars to make it, and less if you have supplies already. Of course, you can purchase a premade one or a stack of them for groups.

Check out our DIY Geoboard to see how my husband made this project.

There is plenty to explore with a geoboard. Since Valentine’s Day is our next holiday, I thought exploring a heart geoboard pattern would be fun. We played around with symmetry with this Valentine’s Day geoboard math activity.

More Geoboard Patterns…

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Heart Geoboard Patterns

Download the free Alphabet Geooard Cards here!

Supplies:

  • A piece of wood or styrofoam
  • Finishing nails (hammer if using wood)
  • Tape measure or ruler
  • Loom bands {we chose traditional Valentine’s Day colors}

Go to our DIY Homemade Geoboard Activity to see how we made ours!

Valentines Day Heart Geoboard Math STEM ActivityPin
Heart Geoboard with Loom Bands for Math ActivityPin

How To Make A Heart Geoboard Pattern

Now, how to make a heart? I am pretty sure you can figure out something for your heart geoboard. Let the kids explore making their own “heart” shapes, too, if they are interested.

You can also try out a cookie cutter or cut a paper heart to show where the heart will fall on the nails. Dollar store cookie cutters!

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Homemade Geoboard Math Activity Heart ShapePin

The activity he enjoyed most was having me create a pattern on one side of the heart, and then he repeated the pattern on the other side. This is a great way to explore symmetry, too! Have your kids copy a pattern for you or a sibling/peer!

Also, check out how we learned about symmetry with our LEGO bricks.

Playing with a heart geoboard for a Valentines Day math activityPin

You can also see how many hearts you can layer on your heart geoboard like we did above, or you can explore shapes inside or outside the heart!

When using a geoboard with kids, you can introduce various math vocabulary words that relate to geometry, spatial awareness, and mathematical concepts. Here are some math vocabulary words that go well with using a geoboard:

  • Vertices: The points where the rubber bands or pegs intersect on the geoboard.
  • Edges: The line segments formed by connecting the vertices with rubber bands on the geoboard.
  • Shapes: Different geometric figures, such as squares, rectangles, triangles, and polygons, can be created on the geoboard.
  • Perimeter: The total length of the boundary or the sum of a shape’s sides on the geoboard.
  • Area: The amount of space enclosed by a shape on the geoboard.
  • Congruent: Shapes that have the same size and shape on the geoboard.
  • Symmetry: When a shape on the geoboard can be divided into two identical halves.
  • Parallel Lines: Lines on the geoboard that are always the same distance apart and will never meet.

 More Fun Valentine STEM Activities

Printable Valentine STEM Project Pack

Countdown to Valentine’s Day with science and STEM! Pack includes complete instructions, templates, and images for 20+ activities. Bonus: printable science Valentine’s Day cards!

6 Comments

  1. You’re blog is one of my favorite go to spots for finding awesome new content to share. I love this idea, just like so many of the hands on activities you share.
    ✿April✿
    Grade School Giggles

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