They get a hands-on learning experience with wet sand and dry sand, noting how both differ and what can be done with each. They also explore mud. In these programs children use their sense of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch to gain general and specific information that will contribute to the development of concepts. ComparingGradually, a child recognizes that one group of things has the same number of things as another group. Sample activities include matching pairs, distributing materials, placing one toy on each of several block, returning materials to shelves.
Children find a relationship between two things on the basis of some specific characteristic.
Parts and Wholes Children learn to recognize and name shapes by playing with toys in various shapes, eating varied-shape crackers, using shapes in creative activities, blocks, movements. Children learn wholes have parts. Later they learn that parts are fractions of wholes. Children use a formal or informal standard for determining length, weight, volume, and quantity. Children learn that each number symbol represents an amount, gradually putting recognition of numerals together with counting.