geoboards – Early Math Counts

Geoboard Website

Early Math Counts — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 11:00:45 +0000

I wrote about Geoboards the other day when discussing topology. I found this website when looking for a good picture of a Geoboard as well as a place to buy them. This website creates a “virtual” geoboard that children can manipulate. When you open it, a geoboard appears and you can click on the rubber bands and then put them on the pegs. You can drag them to create different shapes. On the side, there is a color palette so the children can choose which color they want for their shapes.

This site is a nice addition to actual geoboards, but I wouldn’t replace the real thing.

Geometry and Topology

Early Math Counts — Tue, 19 May 2015 11:06:31 +0000

Before children begin studying geometry the way we understand it, they explore the world of “topology.” Topology is the study of space and shapes; their properties and their relationships. They consider their own place in space, where they are, and how far they are from their others. They think about the relationships between objects and the properties within objects.

When I ask new teachers why it is important to provide clay, play-doh, or silly putty in their program, they will often say that children need plenty of tactile experiences throughout the day. I don’t disagree. However, the manipulation of these materials is another way that children study topography. Exploring the physical properties of clay, allows the children to take a ball and squish it into a snake. The amount doesn’t change but the shape does. Rubber bands and geoboards provide other types of opportunities for children to explore shape by stretching and manipulating the rubber bands to create all sorts of shapes.

Encourage vocabulary associated with topology by posing questions about where things are located or questions about direction. Play games that ask children to move further away and closer toward. Use systems that provide boundaries for children, like tape on the floor, or the edge of the rug.

Allow large block play everyday. No excuses.

Topology is a much more engaging and realistic way to engage young children in early geometry. It is far more interesting than asking them to draw shapes.

Geoboards

Early Math Counts — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 11:00:27 +0000

Geoboards aren’t that different in look and size from Peg Boards, but their purpose and use is completely different. At the last preschool where I worked, we had homemade geoboards, which were fantastic. They were solidly made and kids could really work to cover them with loads and loads of rubber bands.

Usually, the boards are about 12″ X 12″, made of wood or plastic. Some people use push pins to create the grid, but I prefer heavy nails, pounded deeply into the wood so that the rubber bands can’t pull the pins out. This picture shows a really well-made geoboard.Once you have your piece of wood, you can lay out a grid with an even number of spaces on each side. Place the nails about 1 to 1 1/2 inches apart evenly, and pound them in securely. Here is another “recipe” for making a geoboard.

What is the purpose of the geoboard? Geoboards support early math concepts such as geometry and number concepts. As children use the rubber bands, they create shapes on their boards. They can make squares, rectangles, triangles and other “sided” shapes. Be sure to talk to the children about rubber band safety as those colorful missiles are going to be pretty attractive.

Here is a picture of a very simple geoboard.

Children will also explore number concepts as they try and put the rubber bands around a certain “number” of pegs. They may try and pull it around 3 or 4 pegs or “all” of the pegs. Initially, expect them to simply play with the boards as they are pretty enticing (especially if you have provided plenty of colorful rubber bands) and later, you can give them directions by asking them to create a “square” or a “triangle.” Of course, as children approach school age, they can create shaped that have specific dimensions, i.e, 4 X 4 square or a 3 X 5 rectangle. The possibilities are endless.