Transparent 8 x 8 Pocket Mat for BeeBot / Bluebot

Quick Answer: The transparent 8 x 8 pocket mat is a clear floor mat for Bee-Bot and Blue-Bot divided into 64 pockets, eight by eight, that hold the teacher’s own cards and pictures. The large grid leaves room for long routes, obstacles and coordinate work.

Sixty-Four Squares for Longer Programs

An 8 x 8 grid has the same layout as a chessboard, and that is its main teaching strength. Label the columns with letters and the rows with numbers and every pocket gains a grid reference, so pupils can program the robot from B2 to G7 or record where it stopped. On a small mat a route rarely needs more than a few commands; here it can include several turns and a detour around blocked squares.

The listing photo shows pockets filled for maths: coins, dot patterns like those on dice, digits, flat shapes and solid shapes, each in its own pocket. A teacher can ask the robot to collect coins adding to a target amount, or to visit every card showing five. The photo appears to show a five-by-five section of pockets, so the full 8 x 8 layout and overall size are worth confirming at enquiry.

A mat of this size needs a large clear area, such as a hall or a cleared stretch of classroom floor. For table-top work with small groups, the 6 x 4 pocket mat is the compact alternative.

Maths on a Big Grid

• Grid references and coordinates, with letters and numbers along the edges
• Money problems: collect coins that total a set amount in the fewest moves
• Number recognition and subitising with dot-pattern cards
• Shortest-route challenges with some pockets marked as blocked

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Roll the mat around a tube for storage rather than folding a large sheet into quarters.
• Lay it on a hard, level floor so the whole grid is flat before running programs.
• Keep sets of inserts in labelled envelopes by topic, so the mat can be refilled quickly.
• Wipe it with a damp cloth once the inserts are out, and air dry.

Why Choose LabEquip

Primary schools using floor robots for maths often pick the 8 x 8 grid because it supports coordinates and longer problem-solving routes. Browse the other robot accessories under General Lab Products, then send the number of mats and robots via the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can an 8 x 8 grid teach that a smaller mat cannot?

It has enough squares for grid references, longer routes and obstacles. Pupils can plan several alternative paths between two points and compare which uses fewer commands.

How do I use the mat for coordinates?

Put letter cards along one edge and number cards along the other, or write them on strips beside the mat. Each pocket then has a reference such as C5, and pupils program the robot between named squares.

What inserts are shown in the photo?

Maths cards: coins, dot patterns, digits, and flat and solid shapes. Any flat card cut to the pocket size can be used instead.

How much floor space does it need?

More than a table top: allow for the full mat plus a margin around it for pupils to kneel and program. Overall dimensions should be confirmed at enquiry so you can plan the space.

Can children make their own inserts?

Yes. Drawing or writing their own cards is part of many lessons, for example designing a treasure map. Cards cut slightly smaller than the pocket slide in more easily.

Does the mat work with the Blue-Bot app?

Yes. The app programs the same step length as the robot’s keys, so a route planned on the grid runs the same way whichever method is used.

Last Updated: September 2026