Geoboard?

[wendy23]

My son was introduced to this at school and thought it was really interesting. We found an online virtual one he liked but he is much happier with the hands on versions of things. I thought it might make a good Christmas present but am not having any luck finding one. I was hoping for one that looked nice and had activities with it. Maybe that doesn't exist, but if anyone has any ideas, I would love to hear them.

Thanks!

[TiredX2]

My kids liked them too.  We just got the set of six at Lakeshore Learning:

http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/seo/ca%7CsearchResults~~p%7C2534374302100404~~.jsp

[PreggieUBA2C]

I am making my own currently. I have used pine 1x8 boards and finish nails. It's pain-staking work to keep those tiny nails straight! My four yr old loves to walk on the two I have completed; they each have one hundred nails spaced 1/4" apart. He loves using them with elastics too, but they weren't ready when he commandeered them for walking on.

I'll be making a few varieties of board after the "base" four are completed. My dc had a bunch of homemade ones before, but I rushed them all and it became clear to me that they really need to be more accurately spaced. They still love using them though, but the new batch is going to be so much more fun. I even found some very brightly coloured, fluorescent elastics for them! :)

[dessismama]

You can also find free geoboard paper online. Geoboards are definitely a great toy and a wonderful learning tool!!

[meemee]

Originally Posted by wendy23 

 I was hoping for one that looked nice and had activities with it. Maybe that doesn't exist, but if anyone has any ideas, I would love to hear them.

have you actually watched kids play with them? the ones who love them? i have watched kids play with them in K. and my dd still loves hers even now. 

kids never pay attention to the activities. that defeats the whole purpose of the board. the kids would make up their own shapes and show each other. 

the best way to go would be like Preggie is doing. i also give dd yarn to wrap around the nails. we have a few so dd can keep her creations instead of having to destruct them all the time to create a new one.