Chapter 23: Science and Math Activities

Hypothesis	A possible explanation based on observable facts. This is done before a science experiment.
Mathematical vocabulary	Words that express numbers or quantities.
Mathematics	The study of numbers and their functions, and of shapes.
Numerals	Written symbols that represent numbers.
Rebus recipe	A recipe that illustrates ingredients and directions with picture symbols to help children follow the steps.
Science	A system of knowledge covering general truths and laws about the physical world.
Sensory table	A table with a boxlike, hollow top that can hold water, sand, beans, or other substances for children to play with.

The goals of the science curriculum:

Fostering a child’s appreciation for nature and themselves.
Nurturing curiosity and providing opportunities to explore the world.
Encouraging children to investigate the world using their senses.
Providing children with hands-on experiences that develop basic science principles.
Increasing children’s abilities to observe, describe, classify, see relationships, and solve problems.

The goals of the math curriculum:

Identifying and classifying shapes.
Understanding concepts of size and space.
Sorting objects based on specific characteristics.
Using math vocabulary that relates to number and establishes relationships between objects.
Mastering one-to-one correspondence, which will lead to the ability to count.
Organizing mathematical information and relating it in an understandable way.
Establishing relationships between objects through comparison.
Using math concepts and applying them to everyday life.

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Station Work

1. Seriation: identifying size relationships between objects.

2. Rote counting: reciting numbers in order without really understanding what the numbers and their names represent.

In egg carton counting, preschoolers will:

3. Sorting:

When you sort, you are classifying objects according to one or more characteristics.

Children are able to notice similarities and differences in objects, which is valuable in math and science.

At young ages, children can sort by one characteristic only.

4. Shapes:

Children begin to notice shapes as infants and become ready to build this skill in the preschool years.

Shape Activities:

Hunt for shapes throughout the room.
Pass around a shape and have children look at it and feel it with eyes open and closed.
Have children hunt for shapes in a magazine and paste them on a page.
Have the children make objects using a variety of shapes.
Place one of each shape on a magnetic board or flannel board. Have the children look through a basket of shapes and place a shape next to its corresponding match.
Select several sheets of paper and draw one large shape (can also use numerals). Set out 20 inch long shoelaces or string. Invite the children to create the shapes or numerals by placing the laces on top of the shape or numeral on the construction paper sheets.

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