Part 4 Symbols and Higher-Level Concepts and Activities Chapter 7 Transitioning from Preschool to Kindergarten, to Primary ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Number Symbols Numerals each represents an amount each acts as shorthand for recording how many ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Number Symbol Skills Acquired during the preoperational period Six skills acquired by young children: child learns to recognize and verbalize the names of numerals child learns to place the numerals in order child learns to associate numerals with groups child learns that each numeral in order stands for one more than the numeral that comes before it child learns to match and make sets of the size the numeral represents child learns to write numerals ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Examples of Symbol Activities Naturalistic Activities Children become aware of numerals in the environment as they see them and hear references to them Children begin using the names of numerals Children begin to learn number symbols and then use them in play Informal Activities During preoperational period, most activities should be informal Observe children as they work with materials after showing children how to use them self-correcting materials manipulative materials Adult Guided Activities • Activities that include – number recognition – sequence and more than one – association with groups ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Assessment and Evaluation Does the child show an interest in numerals? Does the child use self-correcting materials? What does he do with them? Note which numerals the child can name and if the numerals are named in sequence ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Three Higher-Level Tasks for Groups and Symbols Match a symbol to a group Match a group to a symbol Reproduce symbols ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Examples of Groups and Symbols Activities Naturalistic ActivitiesA When they understand that groups and symbols go together, children will begin to use them in their play Informal Activities Introduce various activities to the children that require them to match symbols to groups and groups to symbols Teach children to write numerals as they ask to write their age, address, phone numbers, and so on Adult Guided Activities Cards for sorting and matching Calculator and computer activities Games such as basic board games lotto or bingo ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Assessment and Evaluation How does the child use materials for informal activities? How does the child do when playing adult guided games? Conduct an individual interview ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Higher Level Activities and Concepts This unit describes higher level activities and concepts for students who are transitioning to concrete operations ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Algebraic Thinking A way of thinking beyond numerical reasoning Can begin in the elementary grades Reflected in pre-primary children: sorting and grouping objects combining groups counting totals building with blocks using objects as symbolic representations Is supported by science inquiry activities ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Higher Levels of Classification Multiple classification Inclusion relations Hierarchical classification ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Reproducing Shapes Done informally Experiment with geoboards Pipe cleaners or straws can be left out for children to use to make shapes Drawings contain shapes Puzzles offer shape challenges ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Spatial Relations Introduce children to maps Begin with a classroom map Include maps in the dramatic play area ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Design Technology/Engineering Children’s constructions become more complex. Children use their constructions in more complex ways ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Fourth Level of Graphs Introduces the use of squared paper child colors in squares drawn on paper to record data ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Concrete Whole Number Operations Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division Requires that child has a basic understanding of one-to-one correspondence number and counting comparing ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

The Symbolic Level Connecting groups and symbols in addition and subtraction Requires that the child can connect groups and symbols identify numerals zero to nine do concrete addition and subtraction problems ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Quantities Above Ten Requires that the child can count 10 objects correctly identify numerals 1 to 10 have a good grasp of one-to-one correspondence accurately count by rote past 10 move on to counting quantities above 10 ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Estimation Children with number sense and a sense about measurement can make reasonable guesses, or estimations. ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Robotics Simple programming of robots can begin in Kindergarten ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Concepts that Crosscut Science and Engineering Content Areas Patterns Cause and effect: Mechanism and explanation Scale, proportion, and quantity Systems and system models Energy and matter: flows, cycles and conservation Structure and function Stability and change ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Activities Vegetables can be classified and placed in three groups: leafy and stem vegetables root vegetables seed vegetables Literature can be employed to help learn about vegetables. Animals can be place in groups according to their characteristics. Mapping experiences help children use symbols and build on the “bird’s eye view.” ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Measurement Science and measurement can be emphasized in the outdoors measure how far the wind will blow dandelion seeds measure plants as they grow measure how long it takes to fill the same size container with various items, such as pine cones— compare the items afterwards ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Sequencing Activities can be sequenced Life cycles of plants and animals can be sequenced ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Technology Can expand and supplement the science program Two main uses include software the Internet technology tools such as cell phones, iPads, etc. ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.