Mathematics
Learning math in the early years
The first few years of a child’s life are especially important for mathematics development. The beauty of maths is that it can be taught every where.
In the caterpillars children will have a short daily whole class math input but, the majority of their learning will happen in planned small focused activities and while adults work and play alongside your child.
Six key areas of mathematical learning
- Cardinality and counting
- Comparison
- Composition
- Pattern
- Shape and Space
- Measures
Looking briefly at each in turn:
Cardinality and counting
When children understand the cardinality of numbers, they know what the numbers mean in terms of knowing how many things they refer to.
Comparison
Comparing numbers involves knowing which numbers or amounts are more or less than or higher and lower than each other.
Composition
Learning to ‘see’ a whole number and its parts at the same time is a key development in children’s number understanding.
Pattern
Developing an awareness of pattern helps young children to notice and understand mathematical relationships.
Shape and space
Mathematically, the areas of shape and space are about developing visualising skills and understanding relationships, such as the effects of movement and combining shapes
Measures
Measuring in mathematics is based on the idea of using language or numbers of units in order to compare attributes, such as length or capacity