How to play GeoBingo
- Choose a 3 × 3 or 4 × 4 card, and choose word clues (easier) or picture clues (harder).
- Press Next clue. Read the clue, or look at the picture, and decide which shape it is.
- Tap the matching shape on your card. If the shape is not on your card, press Not on my card.
- Fill a row, column or diagonal for a line, or the whole card for GeoBingo.
- Try the Mystery shape game: ask yes or no questions to rule shapes out, then guess.
- Use the Shape gallery to look at all 28 shapes and their facts.
Maths skills this game builds
- Names and properties of 2D shapes: triangles, quadrilaterals and polygons
- Names and properties of 3D shapes: faces, edges and vertices
- Right angles, parallel and equal sides
- Lines of symmetry
- Using precise mathematical vocabulary
- Asking good yes or no questions to narrow down possibilities
Tips for parents and carers
- Ask your child to explain why a square is also a rectangle, but a rectangle is not always a square.
- Use the Mystery shape game to practise questions such as “Does it have a curved face?”
- Hunt for these shapes at home: a tin is a cylinder, a tent might be a triangular prism.
Using GeoBingo with a group or class
- Share your screen and use Caller view. Read each clue slowly and let children talk about it before anyone answers.
- Children can draw their own 3 × 3 grid on paper and write the names of nine shapes from the Shape gallery. They cross a shape off as it is called.
- Start with word clues, then switch to picture clues. Pictures show the markings: small squares for right angles, ticks for equal sides and arrows for parallel sides.
- Mystery shape works well as a whole-class game. Children discuss in pairs or breakout rooms, then agree which question to ask.
- Finish by asking children to write a clue for a shape of their own choice, for another team to guess.
Frequently asked questions
How many shapes are in GeoBingo?
There are 28: 17 flat shapes and 11 solid shapes.
What are the markings on the shapes?
A small square marks a right angle, matching ticks show sides of equal length, and arrows show parallel sides. A dotted line shows a diagonal.
Can I play without a screen for each child?
Yes. One person shares a screen, and everyone else uses a paper grid with the shape names written in.
What is the difference between a rhombus and a square?
Both have four equal sides. A square has four right angles, but a rhombus does not have to.