Number

Concepts of Preschoolers

Concepts essential

Object permanence Concepts of number emerges as

children Sort materials into groups (classification) Find order in difference (Seriation) The objects must be counted in order as

distinct members of the group (seriation), but once counted they are equivalent members of the same group (classification)

One to One Correspondence

ESSENTIAL Basis for numerical equivalence

Conservation

Another skill that is essential Emerging understanding that the

quantity of things remains the same regardless of shape or spatial arrangement of the things to be counted.

Preschools get caught between appearance and the truth of counting.

Comparing the number of things in tow sets to determine “more”, “fewer” and “same number”

Provide materials for comparing numbers of things. Discrete materials Art materials

Comparing Quantities

Listen for children’s spontaneous number comparisons. Comparing numbers of materials Comparing numbers of things in

representations. Comparing ages

Comparing Numbers

Accept children’s findings about number.

Arranging Two Sets of Objects in One to One

Correspondence Provide materials that fit together

in one to one correspondence. Watch for the sets of corresponding

materials children generate. Encourage children to gather and

distribute materials. Snack and meal time Card games

Counting Principles

One to one principle Stable order principle Cardinal principal Abstraction principle Order irrelevance principle

Key Experiences

Provide sets of countable objects Listen to counting throughout the day. Accept children’s numerical ordering. Listen for children’s number talk Watch for children’s recognition of

written numbers. Support children who are interested in

writing numbers.

Notes taken from Educating Young Children High Scope Publication.