Make Geoboard for Kids From Paper and Cardboard in Very Easy Way

Hi, Readers welcome again to my another instructable.

This instructable is going to be interesting for many reasons!

A few days back when i was thinking casually thinking about the recent generation kids and the below things flashed.

Most parents allow their kids to use mobile phones and the reason for this may depend, few allow them to watch videos(mostly funny) and few to play games.

But those modern gadgets come with many disadvantages along with few advantages.

When I say the word Disadvantage you may wonder what it is.

Here in a few lines ill go through them.

The number 1 disadvantage is screen time, Kids enjoy the mobile phone as they can sit idle and relax.

This soon becomes a habit(in most cases) later causing addiction.

I agree the usage of mobile phones would be advantageous if used wisely, But those wise users are very less!

So i thought of making this interactive yet simple and handy tool or a TOY you can call otherwise, That would help learn multiple things in one go But the catch here is They can learn while having FUN.

If you have any cross-over questions to my above-said statements you can ask me in the comments.

To begin with let me go through few basic info about this project.

What is Geoboard?

It is a tool by which kids can explore shapes.

It can be a Square, rectangle or Triangle and any other kind of polygons

By the use of this kids can have an interactive learning session with a lot of fun in the process

Why make Geoboard? 

There are 2 reasons

1) Why buy when you can DIY, this can be built at home with very basic materials

In this project, almost every material used is either reused materials or something commonly found at home.

2)Apart from the hands-on experience for the kids after the project is built, You can also involve your kid when you are building this Geoboard

This helps to improve the motor skills

For example, how to measure using a scale(ruler), counting, remembering shapes and other basic skills that would positively impact them in either way in future.

You can have quality family time/ Parenting time while you are building this for your kids.

What to Expect after building and gifting Geoboard to Kids

There is a whole lot of advantage after you build this for your kid.

They will work on the variety of shapes that you will be assigning them on a tiny sheet.

Later they look into the shape/design that you provided and start to recreate the same using rubber bands.

These activities enable more thinking and decision-making ability for a kid.

This project also helps a child's fine motor skills.

With the intro coming to an end we will head over to building this geoboard.

Supplies

As said earlier basic materials are used, here is the list for the same

• A4 sized paper
• Color paper(I prefer blue)
• Thin a4 sheet/rough work sheet
• Scissors
• Cardboard 20cmx20cm
• Marker
• Ruler of 30cm

Step 1: Making the Grid

we will be making an 8*8 Matrix dots

To do this start by marking lines on the sides of a4 sized sheet, Mark the lines 2cm apart from each other, Do this on the sides first,

Now repeat the same for the other 3 sides so that it forms a square, Now draw vertical lines, when it's all done you can start to draw horizontal lines at the end of the process we have a square checked boxes of sides 2cm.

You can check for the same details on the images too, If you still need any clarifications check the video tutorial given in the end or ask me in the comments directly.

Step 2: Naming the Dots

To make the process very easy i have named the dots/ Numbered the dots.

As we are making a 8*8 Geoboard we require 8 rows and 8 columns, so these are named in an attempt to not miss any lines in the cutting phase.

Name as in the above images, and you can mark/highlight the dots using a marker.

These are the areas where we will be working on later.

Step 3: Moving on to Cardboard

As we have our marked dots ready we can transfer them to cardboard

To do so you can do it directly on cardboard but the looks won't be so attractive.

So firstly you can use the color paper of your choice and bring it to the shape of the template(marked dots sheet)

After this cut the cardboard to the size of the template too.

Use paper glue on the surface of the cardboard, make sure not to miss any spots, Now add paper glue and allow to dry.

Step 4: Tracing the Dots

After the color paper on the surface of the cardboard is dry you can firm the template on the new surface.

I used binder clips for this purpose, you can use the same too.

Use the ends of a compass to poke marks/imprint the dotted areas from the template to color paper layer on cardboard.

You need to mark all 64 marks without missing any.

After this is done you can take out the template and check for the imprints, if you miss any correct it.

Step 5: Making Mini Pillars

I think naming the supports that hold the rubber band on board as Mini pillars would be more appropriate!

So to make mini pillars all you need is a think a4 sheet, in my place it is called a4 rough sheet and those are very cheap, you might need 2 sheets for this project.

• Fold the sheet so that you can split the paper into 4 pieces
• Use the refill of a pen to make tubes of paper, and glue the ends well-using paper glue
• Mark 1cm lines on the paper and cut it using scissors
• You need 64 pieces of these, make 70 so that you have a backup if you lose any!

Step 6: Pasting the Pillars(slots)

From step 4 we have the base ready, and from step 5 we have mini pillars ready.

All we have to couple these together in our step 6.

Use paper glue on the bottom of mini pillars and place it on the dots

Repeat the same for 64 pieces too!

After you complete this, Just fill the voids of the tube with glue, this makes the pillars even stronger.

You might need to keep this for drying for a long time, in my case I kept it to dry for 10 hours in 21 degree climate,

Step 7: Making Cards

I would call this assignment cards!

Cut small pieces of paper into 4cm*4cm and mark dots 0.5cm away from each other, you can refer step 1 for this

If you think you can make dots without any measurements you are good to go, as these are just references for kids.

These cards carry the shapes, letters, or designs that you are wanting your kids to recreate on the geoboard.

This can be called as a mirror of the geoboard as this too has 64 dots with a drawing.

Kids can watch these and count on which dots exactly I need to start working and later generate a shape.

Step 8: How to Use Geoboard

As now we are done building our geoboard we need to know how to use them.

Those mini cards are the shapes that you will be giving your Kid.

They will use that to look after the shapes, you can tell them what it is called(named)

For example in the images above my cards have H and I(ask to draw letter H and I), You can show this to them and ask them to recreate it on a geoboard

You can help them in the initial stages as they are new to geoboard, provide them with rubberbands and let them start to work on it

Just pull the elastic band and hook it on the slots on board, The card even says where exactly the slots/points of connections.

This encourages them to actively think and act.

Step 9: Video Tutorial for Geoboard

If your browser has any issues in playing the video directly you can use this link to watch the video(just paste it on your search URL bar) https://youtu.be/zmjoK5UuyiY

Thank you and happy making :)