Responding to children’s natural interest in math and problem solving and taking advantage of the teachable moments during children’s play and routines are valuable ways to promote math learning, but they are not enough. In many programs, science is part of an integrated curriculum, often integrated with math or language arts and therefore a secondary goal. FOR EXAMPLE: I COULD USE A SET OF SPOONS TO HELP CHILDREN LEARN THE CONCEPT OF ABSTRACTION – ANYTHING CAN BE COUNTED.
The following activity shows students how they can use natural and household materials intentionally to teach both science and mathematical skills and concepts.
Materials: Natural and household items, such as a variety of kitchen utensils, pine cones, unshelled nuts, different sized gift bags and bows, buttons, paper towel tubes, string, rocks, seeds, leaves
A list of science and mathematical concepts Math & Science Concepts Chart for HW.docx
Directions for the students:
Use the list of math/science concepts attached.
Gather three sets (more than two) of the materials from the list above.
Explore the materials to determine which science and mathematical concepts could be taught using these materials.
Make a checkmark on the list attached for each concept that could be taught.
After exploring all three sets of materials, reflect on what you learned through this activity.
Grading:
use and identification of 3 sets of household/natural materials (3 pts)
list with checkmarks (5 pts)
reflection of what was learned (2 pts)
Your Name: Material 1:
Material 2:
Material 3:
Math Concepts
1 to 1 correspondence
Number sense
Enumeration: Counting
Cardinality
Stable order principle
Abstraction
Number operations
Geometry
Spatial relationships
Measurement
Science Concepts
Physical Science
• Properties of liquids & solids & objects
• Cause and effect
• Sound and light
• How things move Identify which: Identify which: Identify which:
Life Science
• Life cycle
• Environment
• Living/non-living things
• growth Identify which: Identify which: Identify which:
Earth and Space Science
• patterns in nature
• weather changes
• understanding effect of people on environment
• geographic features
• movement of objects in sky Identify which: Identify which: Identify which:
Focus Form
- What is STEM? Why is this important to teachers of young children?
- How does mathematics affect children’s later success in school? Explain the relationship between SES and the mathematics knowledge gap in children in the United States and in other countries. What are two explanations for the difference?
- What is meant by everyday mathematics? What is subitizing and how does this impact later math competence?
- What is the base 10 number system and how does it work?
- What does it mean to “mathematize?” How can teachers provide these opportunities? Give an example.
- Define the following terms: enumeration, stable order principle, one-to-one correspondence, cardinality, operations, geometry, spatial relations, measurement.
- What are some effective strategies that teachers of young children can use to help them develop concepts of time? Why is “calendar time” not a very effective activity for math instruction for young children?
- Explain the following math process skills: reasoning, connections, representing, composing and decomposing.
- How can teachers of young children use math talk, board games, books and manipulatives to enhance children’s math development? Give specific examples.
- Define the following: physical science, life science, earth and space science. How can teachers promote children’s interest in each of these areas of science in the early childhood classroom and environment? Give specific examples for each area.
- What are the science process skills? How do these processes relate to scientific inquiry and concepts? How can teachers of young children plan and implement a developmentally appropriate science curriculum?
- What are some cultural and individual considerations when planning science learning experiences?
- Explain some appropriate uses of technology in an early childhood classroom
Sample Solution
