TEACHING MATH TO YOUNG CHILDREN

Objective: Students will understand which math concepts should be taught to preschool children. Students will show competent level of understanding acquired information by successfully completing quiz on math and science.

Materials needed:

  1. Power point projector or printout of power point presentation.
  2. Accompanying quiz.
  3. Copy of “Smart” by Shel Silverstien.
  4. 4 sets of variety of keys and buttons for classification activity

Introduction:

Lesson: Go over power point presentation.

SUMMARY:

TEACHING MATH TO YOUNG CHILDREN

MOST IMPORTANTLY – have a positive attitude

TEACHING MATH

•MATH CONCEPTS SHOULD BE CONCRETE & MANIPULATIVE

•CONSIDER PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

•CONSIDER CHILDREN’S INTERESTS

•HELP CHILDREN WITH NEW VOCABULARY

•SOCIAL INTERACTION IS IMPORTANT

CONCEPT:What are numbers? Rote counting

• Identify symbols

• Count objects

• Tell how many

• Telling which one

CONCEPT: Counting

•1st, 2nd, 3rd then have them reverse it

•Big, bigger, biggest

CONCEPT: Measure up

•Measurement comparisons

•Measuring units: inch, pound, quart

CONCEPT: Getting around

•Spatial relations

•Maps

•Follow directions

CONCEPT: Patterning

•Repeat & growing patterns

•Logical reasoning

•Eliminate ones that are different

CONCEPT: Seriating

•Size relationships

•From tall to short

CONCEPT: Classification

•Sort boys/girls

•Sort children by hair color

•Sort different types of animals

CONCEPT: Sequencing

•Sequence the order of pictures in a story

CONCEPT: Symmetry

•Fold and color lines of symmetry

•Use mirror to draw

CONCEPT: Shapes

•2 & 3 dimension

•Shape identification

SHAPES cont’d

•Spheres, cubes, rectangular, prisms, cylinder (use correct names)

•Pictures of shapes need name written on it (language development)

•Play game & move # of spaces of the # of sides (circle=0)

CONCEPT: Money

•Children can start to identify coins

•Playing store helps children gain a sense of the cost of things

CONCEPT: Time

•Children can start to read a clock

•Time concepts must relate to their world

–The length of their favorite TV show

CONCEPT: Statistics & Probability

•Graph types of bugs found, growth of plants, etc.

•Predict how many flowers will bloom from seeds planted.

WHAT ABOUT CALCULATORS & COMPUTERS

•Children should be allowed to explore calculators.

•But solving the problem should be the focus.

•Computers enhance learning if child is required to interact and think logically.

GUIDELINES

•Oral language is important in development of math skills.

•Children can have long attention spans.

•Few strong divides between 4 & 5 year olds.

•Repetition is important.

•Mistakes are good & a natural part of learning process.

•Simple activities can be complex.

Activity:

In small groups have students categorize sets of buttons and key. They need to list all the different ways they have categorized and classified them.

Students may also create a graph of anything they choose.

Students may draw a map of anything of their choice.

Evaluation: Students will have valuable list of activities to draw from for lesson planning.