Rote Counting- reciting numbers in order from memory. Patterning the children in a line-boy, girl, boy, girl Patterning a pompom caterpillar in an AB pattern-yellow, blue, yellow, blue Patterns are the ability to place items in a specific order that repeats such as: They begin to notice similarities as well as differences such as same and different colors, weights and sizes of apples. Once children have had time to explore items, they begin to compare. Or they may place items in order based on first to last (such as placing pictures on a flannel board in order of when they happened in a story).Ĭomparing is the ability to identify similarities in items or groups. They may place items in order based on size or shape (such as placing fruit in order from smallest to largest). When ordering or seriating items, the child compares more than two items or groups and places the items in a logical sequence. Order Seriation is another higher level skill than comparing. They may separate apples by those with and without stems, by size, by color, etc.

They begin to separate items based on observations.

After observing and comparing, the children can take the information learned and begin sorting, classifying and grouping in logical ways. It requires the skill of classifying.Ĭlassifying is a higher level skill than comparing. As an example, we see this when children are working on puzzles.Ĭreating sets is the ability to make groups of items in a logical way. Spatial sense is the ability to place items in the correct spaces or places using a logical design or a pattern. Shapes are also known as early geometry! That’s right…what is geometry but the study of shapes?Īt this age, children will not work with formulas for diameters and circumferences, but rather with identifying basic shape names and comparing, sorting, classifying and drawing them. It helps children to understand the connections between quantities, counting, more, less, etc. Number Sense is the concept of understanding number. It is any activity where the children match one thing to another thing.įor example: 1 button for each bear (see picture below) or 1 paper cup for 1 child, each hand has a mitten. This the understanding that one group of items has the same number of items as another.

Other examples of math language we use in preschool are heavy, light, tall, short, round, rectangular, add to, take away, etc. Introduce new words with activities such as “This is a pattern! Red, white, red, white.” Use math language throughout the day as well as during activities. When given a collection of items (for example apples) children use their senses to observe attributes such as color, size, sweet/sour, texture, and soft/crunchy.Ĭonvergent problem solving is the ability to gather individual pieces of information together in one’s mind and come to a single solution to a problem.ĭivergent problem solving is the ability to gather many pieces of information and consider a variety of possible solutions to a problem. Observing is the first step in gathering and organizing information. Note how each skill prepares the way for the next. Let’s look more closely at the 16 preschool math concepts your preschoolers learn throughout their preschool years. In the field of science, these skills are referred to as Process Skills. In the field of Mathematics, the skills of classifying, comparing and measuring are referred to as Math Concepts.

Preschool math concepts overlap and are interrelated with preschool science concepts.

Basic math for preschoolers