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Mathematics
 Mathematics helps young children make sense of the world around
them and understand their physical world. Children are inclined
to make comparisons, notice similarities and differences in objects
and group their toys and materials. The ability to organize information
into categories, quantify data and solve problems helps children
to learn about time, space and numbers.
When children play in the sandbox, cook applesauce and complete
a puzzle, they are engaging in activities that allow them to develop
the thinking skills that are naturally used in daily life. Children
learn the uses of mathematics to describe and explore relationships
among objects and materials in the environment. They increasingly
develop the vocabulary and skills to measure, describe patterns
and to express order and position.
Children develop ways to solve problems and
to think about math.
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1. Play
Children engage in play to develop their mathematical thinking
and problem solving. |
- Begin to make groups and match objects.
- Use counting and number vocabulary as a part of play.
- Experiment with patterns and shapes.
- Explore measurement, number and quantity with various
materials.
- Collect and organize information and materials as
a natural part of play.
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2. Numbers and Operations
Children show interest and curiosity in counting and grouping
objects and numbers. |
- Match, sort, put in a series and regroup objects
according to one characteristic.
- Begin to use numbers and counting as a means for solving
problems, predicting and measuring quantity.
- Use one-to-one correspondence in counting objects
and matching groups of objects.
- Begin to associate a number of objects with names
and symbols for numbers.
- Use words such as more than, less than and add/subtract
to express some number concepts.
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3. Geometry and Spatial Sense
Children show an interest in recognizing and creating shapes
and an awareness of position in space. |
- Describe and name common shapes found in the natural
environment.
- Use language to understand the arrangement, order
and position of objects that are on top of, next to, on the
bottom, underneath, beside and in front of other objects.
- Group objects according to their shape and size.
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4. Patterns and Measurement
Children show an interest in recognizing and creating patterns, comparing and measuring time and quantity. |
- Group and name a number of similar objects into simple
categories.
- Begin to understand that some events take place in
the past, present or future.
- Begin to order, compare or describe objects according
to size, length, height and weight using standard or non-standard
forms of measurement.
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