COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT: Mathematics, Shapes

The same way we cultivate literacy daily, we use multiple opportunities during the day to help the Cardinals build competence in math. As the Cardinals count the amount of crackers and apples at the Snack Table, pour a substance from one container to another, put all the big rocks in one pile and the smaller ones in another at the Rock Sculpting Center, or tap a rhythmic pattern, they are learning math. Daily experiences like these provide the context for the Cardinals to evolve in math. Learning math is not just about numbers, it helps us make sense of the world around us and teaches us to reason and problem-solve.

Throughout her school day, Kaya is provided with endless opportunities to develop and enhance her mathematical skills. An example is the introduction of our math workshops. We launched our first Math Workshop with the mathematical concept of plane geometry, 2-D shapes. We first read Tana Hoban’s book, circles, triangles and squares. 

  

Using no text, this book introduces the geometric concepts of circles, triangles and squares demonstrated in photographs of bridges, buildings, windows, tires, boats, and other objects. After the read aloud, the Cardinals had a discussion on basic geometric shapes and their characteristics.     

After the thought-provoking discussion on two dimensional geometry shapes, the Cardinals set out to attend the workshops.

One station was set up with Shape Bingo ....

Another was the Playdough Shape Station with circle, square and rectangle cookie cutters.

Additional was a Shape Stamping Station where Kaya and the other Cardinals were encouraged to make a bird using 2-D shape stamps.

Lastly, the Rock Shape Challenge Station in the Rock Sculpting Center where Kaya and the other Cardinals picked a challenge and created the design using rocks.  

Throughout all these activities, Kaya demonstrated her recognition and understanding of basic geometric shapes such as square, circle, rectangle, triangle and oval.