ERIC Number: EJ939114
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1350-293X
EISSN: N/A
Between the Secret Garden and the Hothouse: Children's Responses to Number Focused Activities in the Nursery
Gifford, Sue
European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, v12 n2 p87-102 2004
This paper reports on a study of nursery children's responses to number focused activities. Responses were analysed in terms of cognitive, physical, emotional and social aspects in order to gain insights into what engaged children in number learning opportunities. "Cognitive-emotional hooks" for number activities were identified, involving cognitive activities with associated emotional responses, for instance predicting was associated with the "cognitive thrill" of problem solving and risk taking. Other responses included an appreciation of incongruity associated with humour, resulting sometimes in children's number jokes. The children's interest in number learning for its own sake underlines a view of children as agents in their own learning, but also challenges the view that number activities have to be integrated in everyday activities in order to be meaningful to young children. Children's responses suggest strategies for planning number activities, including playful teaching approaches to foster children's positive attitudes to mathematical learning.
Descriptors: Creative Activities, Creative Development, Teaching Methods, Cognitive Development, Physical Development, Emotional Development, Social Development, Nursery Schools, Number Concepts, Numbers, Numeracy, Mathematics Activities, Classroom Observation Techniques, Performance Factors, Learner Engagement
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A