After exploring geometry in all types of variations and activities since the beginning of the school year, on October 18th, 2015 I have planned to introduce the children in the 4’s class to an activity that supports spatial visualization and imagery. According to Douglas H. Clements and Julie Sarama, the authors of Learning and Teaching Early Math (2014), the ability to engage in visual imagery and spatial visualization is one of the most powerful operations in human cognition. This ability is particularly useful for problem solving as it allows imagining solutions to problems. More importantly, spatial visualization and imagery is essential human ability that contributes to mathematical ability, especially when it comes to geometry. As a preschool
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As indicated by NAEYC, preschoolers are capable of identifying some of the geometric shapes (circle, triangles, squares, rectangles and ovals), use related vocabulary as well as compare and contrast shapes. According to the Common Core Standards for Preschools (PK.G), through participation in this activity, the children will gain an ability to describe objects in the environment using names of shapes and to describe the relative position of these objects using terms such as top, bottom, up, down, in front of, behind, over, under, and next to as well as correctly name and position shapes regardless of size. In addition, by engaging in this activity, students will use their physical, language, and cognitive skills. The children will use their fine motor skills as well as their eye-hand coordination as they will move and pick up pattern blocks, they will use geometry related vocabulary, engage in a conversation with a teacher, they will move from matching to duplicating stage which is more complex ability as well as they will use their cognitive/ thinking/spatial visualization skills to use correct motions to place them in accurate direction and amount. Preschoolers develop spatial visualization skills by working from two perspectives on space as they examine the shapes of objects and inspect their relative position. This lesson provides hands-on experience for the students to use their spatial abilities as well as use, and apply their previous knowledge about different shapes and patterns. In addition, using pattern blocks with 4 year-olds to duplicate a picture with three-dimensional shapes will enhance their problem-solving skills while arranging shapes to create recognizable objects/duplicate a
As indicated by NAEYC, preschoolers are capable of identifying some of the geometric shapes (circle, triangles, squares, rectangles and ovals), use related vocabulary as well as compare and contrast shapes. According to the Common Core Standards for Preschools (PK.G), through participation in this activity, the children will gain an ability to describe objects in the environment using names of shapes and to describe the relative position of these objects using terms such as top, bottom, up, down, in front of, behind, over, under, and next to as well as correctly name and position shapes regardless of size. In addition, by engaging in this activity, students will use their physical, language, and cognitive skills. The children will use their fine motor skills as well as their eye-hand coordination as they will move and pick up pattern blocks, they will use geometry related vocabulary, engage in a conversation with a teacher, they will move from matching to duplicating stage which is more complex ability as well as they will use their cognitive/ thinking/spatial visualization skills to use correct motions to place them in accurate direction and amount. Preschoolers develop spatial visualization skills by working from two perspectives on space as they examine the shapes of objects and inspect their relative position. This lesson provides hands-on experience for the students to use their spatial abilities as well as use, and apply their previous knowledge about different shapes and patterns. In addition, using pattern blocks with 4 year-olds to duplicate a picture with three-dimensional shapes will enhance their problem-solving skills while arranging shapes to create recognizable objects/duplicate a