I have been busy making some resources that my class of three and four year olds can use in the outdoor area at school. One idea that I came up with was a free form geoboard. Geoboards are usually a square board with pegs or nails that students attach rubber bands to. They are usually used in maths classes for older children to explore concepts such as angles, area and shape.
I thought my class could use the board at outdoor time to make shapes, patterns, numbers, letters and weave leaves and twigs though the elastic bands. It is a fabulous fine motor activity that promotes patience, problem solving, counting and creativity.
I began with a simple painting of a snake and used natural coloured paints.
I hammered nails at semi-regular intervals along the outline, down the middle and on some of the patterns.
I used natural coloured elastics but depending on your base picture, you could use brightly coloured elastics.
My own kids spent hours making patterns and shapes. I highly recommend having a go at making one. I am so inspired that I am going to make some more and try to sell them.
Let me know what you think.