Course Plan: Exploring Identity through Mathematics
Introduction
Welcome to the "Exploring Identity through Mathematics" course tailored for preschool/nursery children. This course aims to spark young children's engagement with mathematical concepts through the lens of identity. By intertwining mathematics with personal and cultural identity, children will explore how they fit into the world around them. Through play-based and child-led activities, we will nurture their natural curiosity and understanding of numbers, shapes, and patterns, fostering a sense of belonging through math.
Course Goals and Aims
Course Goals
- Introduce basic mathematical concepts while fostering an understanding of personal and cultural identity.
- Facilitate play-based learning experiences that promote exploration and understanding of identity through mathematical activities.
- Encourage social interaction and collaboration among children as they engage with mathematical concepts related to self and community.
Course Aims
- Children will identify and express mathematical concepts through personal experiences.
- Children will explore shapes, numbers, and patterns as they relate to their identities and the world around them.
- Children will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a collaborative and playful environment.
Course Structure
Module 1: Who Am I? (Lessons 1-3)
Lesson 1: My Name and Number
- Objective: Children will recognize their names and associate them with numbers (i.e., letters in their names).
- Activities: Name games, name tags, and counting letters.
Lesson 2: The Shape of Me
- Objective: Children will explore the shapes that make up their bodies.
- Activities: Body tracing, shape collage from various materials, and discussion about different shapes.
Lesson 3: Who Am I in the Community?
- Objective: Discuss various community roles and identities using mathematical concepts.
- Activities: Role-play community helpers, counting the number of roles, and mapping out community places with shapes.
Module 2: My Culture and Heritage (Lessons 4-6)
Lesson 4: Patterns in My Culture
- Objective: Children will explore cultural patterns and designs.
- Activities: Create patterns using cultural motifs, identify patterns in clothing, and discuss family heritage.
Lesson 5: Counting Our Cultures
- Objective: Children will learn to count using cultural artifacts.
- Activities: Collections of items from different cultures, counting and sorting activities.
Lesson 6: Shapes Around Us
- Objective: Identify and compare different shapes present in cultural symbols or artefacts.
- Activities: Shape scavenger hunt related to different cultures or celebrations.
Module 3: Friends and Family (Lessons 7-9)
Lesson 7: Family Tree Math
- Objective: Create a family tree and understand relationships in mathematical terms.
- Activities: Drawing family trees, counting family members, discussing relationships in terms of addition.
Lesson 8: Measuring Each Other
- Objective: Children will compare their heights and sizes.
- Activities: Measure friends using non-standard units like blocks, and compare the results.
Lesson 9: Sharing and Dividing
- Objective: Understand sharing through mathematical terms.
- Activities: Sharing snacks or toys, discussing fairness in groups, exploring basic division.
Module 4: I Can Count! (Lessons 10-12)
Lesson 10: My Favourite Things
- Objective: Count and create a graph of favourite objects or toys.
- Activities: Surveying friends about their favourite objects, counting, and representing data visually.
Lesson 11: Number Stories
- Objective: Learn basics of addition and subtraction through storytelling.
- Activities: Create stories around personal experiences involving numbers, such as number of siblings, toys, etc.
Lesson 12: Celebration of Identity
- Objective: Children will celebrate what they have learned about identity through mathematics.
- Activities: Create a display of their work throughout the course, culminate in a celebration with family, including interactive math games.
References
- Australian Curriculum. (n.d.). Mathematics. Retrieved from Australian Curriculum website
- Department of Education and Training, Victoria. (2016). Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework. Retrieved from Department's website
- National Quality Standards (NQS). (n.d.). Guide to the National Quality Framework. Retrieved from ACECQA website
- Fleer, M., & Hedegaard, M. (2010). Play and Learning in the Early Years: The Role of Identity and Sociocultural Contexts. Cambridge University Press.
- Clements, D. H., & Sarama, J. (2020). Learning and Teaching Early Math: The Learning Trajectories Approach. Routledge.
This course is designed to engage preschool children in mathematical thinking through experiences that resonate with their personal and cultural identities. The combination of play-based and emergent curriculum will provide a rich learning experience for all participants.