Deck 11: Math and Science and Play

Question 1

According to the authors, integrating STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) into early learning requires:

A) An arts-based environment focused on creative discoveries and play
B) A discovery-based environment embedded in the context of play
C) An outdoor environment focused on gross motor skills with play structures
D) Time for children to exercise and blow off steam through play and sports

Answer 1

An outdoor environment focused on gross motor skills with play structures

Question 2

According to the theories of Piaget, children acquire knowledge through:

A) Reading information in books
B) Receiving information from teachers
C) Structured, formalized lesson plans
D) Interactions with the environment

Answer 2

Interactions with the environment

Question 3

Piaget distinguished between how many types of knowledge?

A) Three
B) Four
C) Five
D) Six

Answer 3

Three

Question 4

Logical-mathematical knowledge is defined as:

A) Knowledge about the characteristics of objects in the environment, such as size, weight, and texture
B) Learning rules for behaviour in social situations
C) Knowledge that includes the relationships each individual constructs or invents to make sense of the world
D) Learning that includes memorizing information vital to a child's inventory of knowledge

Question 5

Lev Vygotsky and Jean Piaget differed in their concept of the acquisition of knowledge in what way?

A) Piaget believed that others have an influence on a child's acquisition of knowledge and Vygotsky believed that it is the child's exploration of the environment that leads to knowledge acquisition
B) Vygotsky believed that others have an influence on a child's acquisition of knowledge and Piaget believed that it is the child's exploration of the environment that leads to knowledge acquisition
C) Vygotsky believed that early learning teachers help children acquire knowledge through the set up of the learning environment and Piaget felt that it was through scaffolding
D) Piaget believed that children's knowledge is acquired through a system of operant conditioning and Vygotsky believed that children acquire knowledge through modeling more capable peers or adults

Question 6

Benjamin Bloom identified how many levels of high order thinking?

A) Three
B) Four
C) Fix
D) Six

Question 7

What term is usually applied to describe what children are discovering when engaging in meaningful science activities?

A) Big ideas
B) Mountainous moments
C) Huge ideas
D) Enormous eureka moments

Question 8

David Hawkins indicates that it was important for early learning teachers and teachers to:

A) Demonstrate scientific experiments to children even at a very early age
B) Experiment with scientific materials themselves before presenting them to children
C) Demonstrate the proper use of scientific materials to children in order to ensure safe and health standards
D) Wait until children enter the school system before introducing the science as a subject

Question 9

Children will be motivated and empowered to learn about math and science when they have:

A) A sense of agency
B) All of the physical tools necessary in their environment
C) Success and validation when tested
D) Peers who are more proficient in math and science

Question 10

When children investigate their world they can engage in the same scientific processes that scientists use. During the "predicting and hypothesizing" process, children would:

A) Question, speculate, and predict
B) See different viewpoints and perspectives
C) Communicate findings
D) Make conclusions

Question 11

According to the scientific method process for young children, children representing data by charting, graphing, or sorting out their findings to interpret the findings refers to the stage called:

A) Communicating discoveries
B) Predicting and hypothesizing
C) Summarizing and analyzing to form a conclusion
D) Experimenting and testing

Question 12

Children's thinking as related to math and science goes through four distinct stages involving representation. They are:

A) Representation, symbolic, semi-abstract, and abstract
B) Concrete, semi-conceptual, conceptual, and phenomenal
C) Concrete, semi-concrete, semi-abstract, and abstract
D) Semi-concrete, concrete, abstract, and semi-abstract

Question 13

Researchers agree that developmentally appropriate experiences in math and science should have the following principle in place:

A) The child is an active rather than a passive learner
B) The child learns by solitary play and experiences
C) The adult directs the learning that the child receives
D) The child should learn by their own initiative rather than with adults as partners

Question 14

According to Bruner, if a child was at the symbolic stage of knowledge representation, an early learning teacher can teach with:

A) Actions on objects
B) Lessons about numbers
C) Numerals, letters, words
D) Stories with symbolism

Question 15

The most appropriate way to include science in the early learning environment is:

A) Demonstrate experiments for the children to see
B) Provide materials that are rich in scientific possibilities
C) Invite a scientist into the classroom
D) Have scientific journals available for the children to read

Question 16

If an early learning teacher and group of children were exploring the properties of materials such as rocks and shells, the focus would be on:

A) Life science
B) Physical science
C) Social science
D) Earth science

Question 17

When children are exploring technology as a scientific process, a play-based learning experience could involve:

A) Investigating how a simple machine functions
B) Watching highly technical movies
C) Reading about technology in books
D) Listening to techno music

Question 18

According to Miller and Almon (2009) which classic play materials are largely disappearing from children's play spaces?

A) Unit blocks
B) Complex puzzles
C) Dramatic play props
D) Sand and water

Question 19

Ordinality refers to:

A) Discriminating an array of objects
B) Count the quantity of the number presented
C) Sense the approximate magnitude
D) Seriate objects from smaller to larger

Question 20

One-to-one correspondence refers to a:

A) Counting procedure
B) Conversation between two children
C) Conversation between a child and an early learning teacher
D) Concrete way to learn math concepts

Question 21

Rote counting requires the child to:

A) First explore rationale counting
B) Demonstrate one-to-one correspondence
C) Memorize and recite
D) Count sets that contain a quantity of items

Question 22

Which is considered an attribute for classification?

A) Texture
B) Rational counting
C) Rote counting
D) Fixed numbers

Question 23

As the next level from one-to-one correspondence, the capacity to identify a small number of items presented briefly without counting these items one by one is called:

A) Cardinality
B) Subitizing
C) Seriation
D) Abstraction

Question 24

School-age children will be tested for their math and science aptitude in the formal school system, therefore:

A) Early learning teachers should test children of this age group who are in their programs
B) Math and science experiences can be left to the formal school system
C) Math and science experiences should only be abstract
D) Early learning teachers can think of alternative strategies and possibilities

Question 25

Math and science as content areas are:

A) Separate and isolated from other domains
B) Intended for later school curriculum
C) Connected to many other developmental areas
D) Never introduced to infants and toddlers

Question 26

When creating a nature mandala, children are experimenting with:

A) Texture
B) Symmetry
C) Density
D) Predicting and hypothesizing

Question 27

For math and science experiences, it is the content that really counts, not the process of the learning.

Question 28

Physical knowledge includes learning about objects in the environment and their characteristics such as colour, weight, size, and texture.

Question 29

Benjamin Bloom's taxonomy of higher order thinking is not an appropriate tool for early learning teachers to use when questioning children.

Question 30

Concepts help children organize their world, serving as a mental filing cabinet.

Question 31

A teachable moment points to a time in a learner's development when he or she can teach others what he or she knows.

Question 32

In order to educate children it is important that they be provided with the right answers.

Question 33

Children relate to the world based on their need and interest in exploration and wonderment.

Question 34

Sand and water play lays the foundation for logical mathematical thinking, scientific reasoning, and cognitive problem solving.

Question 35

The final step of the scientific method process is to help children communicate their discoveries through different ways, such as verbal discussions or drawing pictures.

Question 36

Knowledge about quantity emerged until later in life when a child can tell the difference between quantities.

Question 37

Stable order refers to the linear way in which children order their blocks for stacking.

Question 38

For children to count rationally they need to demonstrate one-to-one correspondence.

Question 39

The easiest positional words for children to learn are left and right.

Question 40

A provocation is an ignored play invitation and can provoke children to become disengaged from math and science in play.

Question 41

Just as labelling the environment with words to support language and literacy, early learning teachers can support math development by writing down numbers.

Question 42

School-age children will be tested for their math skills in the formal school system so they do not need experience with real materials.

Question 43

Morphology refers to the scientific inquiry of systems and pattern development.

Question 44

Explain why rote learning as identified in Bloom's taxonomy would not be considered appropriate to encourage higher order thinking.

Question 45

Describe a teachable moment in math and science and explain why this time was appropriate for the adult to intervene.

Question 46

A parent who has had older children in another early learning setting tells you that she expects you to provide her child with worksheets in order for him to learn mathematical skills. What will you say to her about this request? What evidence will you use to support your position?

Question 47

When an adult experiences materials and explores the possibilities inherent for the development of math and science concepts it should enhance the children's experiences. Explain why. If the adults are exploring with flashlights and sunlight what concepts could be explored? What are the "big ideas"?

Question 48

Describe the stages of representation for children involving the following: concrete, semi-concrete, semi-abstract, and abstract as they relate to a graphing experience.

Question 49

Describe the steps of the scientific method and give an example of how an early learning teacher could integrate play and engagement within each scientific step using the environment, invitations, and play materials.