Early Childhood Math Examples - Sybilla Beckmann

Examples

Sybilla Beckmann

Department of Mathematics, University of Georgia

STEM Summit 2010

Sybilla Beckmann (UGA) Examples 1 / 12

What is there to know about counting?

If a child can correctly say the first five counting numbers,

“one, two, three, four, five,”

will the child necessarily be able to determine how many blocks thereare in this collection?

Why or why not?



“1” “2” “3” “4” “1” “2” “3” “4”

Child 1: Child 2:

“1” “2” “3”“4” “3”“4”“5” “6” “1” “2” “5” “6”

Child 3: Child 4:



“1” “2” “3” “4” “5”

Child 1:

“1” “2” “3” “4” “5”

Child 2:

“1” “2” “3” “4” “5”

Child 1: Child 2:

Teacher: “How many blocks are there?”

Teacher: “So how many blocks are there?”

“Five all

together!”


Building connections

Math is connected across grade levels and across topics

A common spirit and approach can connect math and the sciences:

inquiry

expecting ideas to make sense

engagement, exploration, and playfulness


Early math connects to later math

Young children make pictures and designs with pattern tiles


Early math connects to later math

Young children can compose and decompose shapes to make newshapes


Early math connects to later mathGrouping to create a new unit

10 ones are grouped

to form one ten


Early math connects to later mathDetermining areas

7 cm

6 cm

3 cm6 cm

4 cm

12 cm

What is the

area of the shaded

shape?

Method 1 Method 2 Method 3

7×6 + 4×6 3×6 + 4×12 7×12 - 3×6


Early math connects to later mathUnderstanding the common multiplication algorithm

3×10

10×10 10×4

3×4

14

×13

12

30

40

100

182

10 + 4

10

+

3


Early math connects to later mathUnderstanding the triangle area formula

h

b

h

b÷2

One method:


Early math connects to later mathUnderstanding the triangle area formula

h

b

h

b

h

b

Another method:


Early math connects to later mathCalculus

y = x2

dxx

y

1

1

area under curve =

∫ 1

0x2dx =

13

x3]1

0=

13


Education

Early Childhood Math Examples - Sybilla Beckmann