Method of introducing counting to a Preschooler

Project submitted by NISHTHA SHUKLA

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks to SADAF MAM our principle for giving me such attention and time.

I am highly indebted to GURJIT MAM our math teacher for her guidance and constant supervision as well as for providing necessary information regarding the subject.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to my family, friends for giving me such kind of support in this project.

I would like to give thanks to DAYANAND SIR for giving a kind support and help in this project.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To develop Chromatic sense in children.To improve the vocabulary of solving simple

math problem with stories, puppets and everyday situation that occur.

To make a problem solving activities that gives children an opportunity to use skills they have learned previously.

Presenting math to kids in a manner that emphasizes the importance of curiosity in brain development, it will motivate them to inquire further.

INTRODUCTION

Learning about numbers is a preschooler’s first step toward becoming a budding young mathematician. And in preschool, math learning is all about counting, number recognition, and one-to-one correspondence.

It also includes concepts such as money, time, and measurement, problem solving skills like classification and sequencing, analytical skills and judgment which are required when weighing, measuring as well as vocabulary and language skills for describing all these concepts.

INTRODUCTION

Comparison activities develop visual discrimination and visual memory skills.  Pattern recognition activities require children to observe and continue patterns preparing them for learning to recognize numbers.  Number recognition and counting activities prepare preschoolers for grade school level addition and subtraction exercises. 

DESCRIPTION

building a foundation for complex mathematical thinking begins in the early childhood years. Sorting and classifying objects helps children begin to notice how items are alike and different, and creates an awareness that is vital for math learning.

How does a parent go about teaching their child the skills of sorting and classifying? Most importantly, make it a point to pay attention to how things are alike and different as you go about your daily routine. The seemingly simple task of sorting the silverware when it comes out of the dishwasher is a valuable early sorting task for a preschooler (and a fabulous first chore)!

Use the objects in your house as teaching tools and it makes the learning more meaningful for young children."We use treasure boxes filled with 'kid stuff' and notice how things are alike and different,” says Grace Davila Coates, Program Director of Family Math (Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California at Berkeley) and co-author of Family Math for Young Children. “Kids who are used to comparing and contrasting do better in mathematics."

Preschool Math: All Sorts of Sorting!

All Sorts of ChoresLooking for a little help around the house? Have

your preschooler help you with these household tasks while getting in some sorting practice!

After a trip to the grocery store, have her sort the food according to where it is stored: freezer foods, refrigerator foods, pantry foods and other household items. If she is unsure of where something goes, have her give it the touch test to see if it is cold and remind her that cold foods belong in the refrigerator or freezer.

Sock sort!

Sock sort! The dreaded task of sorting socks is just a big math game for preschoolers. Have your child help you sort the socks by size or family member and then by color. Matching up pairs is also an excellent way to practice visual discrimination skills. Visual discrimination is the ability to see the differences in similar objects, and will come in handy as children begin to discriminate similarly shaped numbers and letters.

Clean up time

Clean up time provides wonderful opportunities to practice sorting. The simple task of putting the blocks in one container and the crayons in another is actually an early lesson in sorting and classifying. If possible, set up your child’s play area in zones. For example, art materials, books, puzzles, and dolls all should have a special place in the room.

All Sorts of Food

Snack time and meal time are excellent times to sneak in some learning! Try a few of these simple activities and playing with your food will become a catalyst for learning about sorting.

Anything that has more than two colors can be sorted. Have your child sort cereal, fruit snacks, small crackers or candy. Sorting by color is the perfect beginning sorting activity for preschoolers.

After your child has mastered sorting by one attribute, have her try sorting by two different attributes. For example, she can sort the trail mix first by the different kinds of foods included (nuts, fruit, candy) and take it a step further by sorting the nuts into cashews, almonds and peanuts or the candy into red, brown, and yellow

All Sorts of Fun

Play session with your child and sorting will become a natural extension of her play. Young children learn best through play. Take notice of the toys around you during your next

While playing with the cars, notice similarities in several cars. Lay out a few pieces of colored paper and ask your child to drive the cars onto the “parking lot” paper that matches the car color. Cars can also be sorted by types: trucks, race cars, motorcycles, and emergency vehicles.

Sort dolls by hair color, eye color, size, clothing color or type of clothes (dresses, pajamas, pants).

Sort blocks or beads by size, shape and colour.While playing with a deck of cards, try sorting

them by suite, number or color.Sorting is really all about observing, comparing

and contrasting objects. As your child becomes familiar with this early math skill, she will begin to sort objects naturally, setting herself up for all sorts of success in math as she enters school!

Activities

Counting is the ability to recite numbers in order.

Recite nursery rhymes and sing songs that include counting such as: One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, There Were Ten in the Bed, This Old Man, Five Little Ducks and The Ants Go Marching One by One. This will give your child an opportunity to practice counting in a fun and playful manner.

Number Recognition

While in the car or waiting in line, have your child count as high as he can go. Have him clap as he says each number name to make the learning kinesthetic.

Number Recognition is the ability to visually recognize and name number.

Give your child a calculator and let him play with the numbers. Ask him to find the number that shows how old he is and show him the number that shows how old you are. Have him type in the numbers 0-10 in order. This learning tool works well when you are waiting in line; keep one in your purse for emergencies!

One-to-One

One-to-One Correspondence is the matching up of a verbal or written number with an object. When a child has mastered one-to-one correspondence, he can touch objects as he counts them.

Have your child count at mealtime by matching up napkins and spoons, counting plates and cups for each family member or doing a count to be sure there are enough chairs when you have company for dinner.

ACTIVITY

Make snack time learning time by writing the numbers 1-12 in the bottom of an egg carton and have your child count the appropriate number of small crackers, cereal or cookies into each section. Keep the egg carton on top of the fridge or pantry for repeated practice.

SUGGESTION

Velcro Worksheets- Having some problems and pictures on left side. Child is supposed to stick small pictures on right side having Velcro at back side.

Work sheets can be provided for the practice

Fill in with appropriate numbers

CONCLUSION

Children need concrete object - real stuff, manipulative, materials, such as blocks, counters, Popsicle sticks, in order to make sense of new math concepts or abstract ideas.

Children need to link math to their everyday experiences.

They need vocabulary to express their mathematical experiences.

THE END