Understanding of math and science begins early. To help children develop intellectually, child care and educational professionals plan and lead math and science activities that promote learning, and make the subjects interesting and enjoyable.

 Mathematics-study of shapes and numbers and the use of numbers.  Mathematical vocabulary – or words that express numbers, quantities, shape, size, and volume.  Science – is a process of collecting knowledge about the physical world and how the world works.  Sensory table – a table with boxlike, hollow top that can hold water, sand, beans, or other substances for children to explore.  Rebus recipe – a recipe that illustrates ingredients and directions with picture symbols, to help children follow the steps.  Nature education – teaching about the environment and life on Earth.  Field guide – book for identifying natural items, such as flowers, insects, birds, or trees.

 Math is a part of everyone’s daily life.  As children become competent and comfortable with math, they will see math in everyday life.  Effective early childhood educators can help children discover meaningful applications of math skills in daily life.  True understanding of math occurs between age five and seven.  The goal of a math curriculum for young children is to provide an environment that encourages the awareness and development of math skills.

 Identifying, describing, and classifying shapes  Understanding concepts of size and space  Sorting a variety of objects based on specific characteristics  Using math vocabulary that relates to numbers and establishes relationships between objects  Mastering one-to-one correspondence, which leads to counting  Organizing mathematical information and relating it in an understandable way  Establishing relationships between objects by comparing them  Using math concepts and applying them to everyday life

 As in other curriculum areas, hands-on experience with real objects is the best way to lead children to math mastery.  When children group, sort, measure, weigh, and compare objects, they see how math skills apply to daily life.  Children use math as a way of organizing and communicating information.  Integrating math awareness and learning into play activities helps children see why math skills are needed in real life.

 Recognizing Shapes  Sorting  Seriation  Patterning  Rote Counting  Rational Counting  Recognizing Numerals  Ordering Numerals  Making Charts and Graphs

 1-inch square table blocks in many colors  Wood pattern chips and pegs and pegboards in many colors  Colored stringing beads of different shapes and interconnecting plastic blocks or bricks  Measuring spoons and cups  Containers that hold from a half-pint to 1 gallon of liquid  Balance and weight scales  Height charts and tape measures and rulers  Counters – such as buttons, shells, or acorns – and counting table games  Shape and number bingo, matching card games, and puzzles  Play cash register and play money  Clocks, kitchen timers, stopwatches, and plastic hourglass timers

 Children learn to appreciate the wonders of the world at a young age  Young children have unending curiosity, who are full of questions and eager to explore  Active discovery and investigation are the basics of science for children  Hands-on experiences let children witness and experiment with basic science concepts

 Children discover sciences best when adults set the stage for safe exploration  As children explore, teachers guide children’s learning by asking questions to encourage observation, analysis, and problem solving  Teachers might ask the following questions as children explore: How does it look? How does it feel? What is happening? Why do you think this is happening?

 Goals for a science curriculum include: - fostering children’s appreciation of nature and themselves. - encouraging curiosity and providing chances to explore the world. - allowing children to investigate the world using their senses - providing children with hands-on experiences that develop basic science concepts. - increasing children’s ability to observe, to describe, to classify, to see relationships, and to solve problems.

 Find ways to make the concepts simple and understandable.  Spark interest, not overwhelm children with complicated, abstract lectures. A hands-on approach does best.  Young children can practice many skills through science activities.  Children like to collect, observe, and touch objects, plants, and animals. As they do have them describe what their senses discover.  Encourage children to question and to think.