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PROGRAM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT * 1 HOUR * LEVEL 2

STEM in the Early Childhood Program
Mathematics in the Classroom

Page 12
Mathematics, or math, is the study of numbers. This includes patterns, equations, systems, and shapes. These are integral parts to the early childhood classroom. The study of math links many different subjects together and can be seen in the natural world as well as in the man-made world. This makes it such an important subject to learn and be comfortable with.
When including STEM math instruction in your program, it is important to link this with real-world applications. This is one of the things that sets STEM math apart from standard classroom math. Instead of the standard arithmetic lessons, a STEM math lesson will usually involve a partner or group project and be included in an engineering or design process. STEM math doesn’t always have one correct answer, but instead, students are using math skills to create, design, solve, or question something.
How to include math STEM lessons in your early childhood program:
  • Build foundational math skills that students can use in many areas of their learning.
  • Encourage math exploration with a math center area, including math manipulatives, blocks, pattern making pieces, and more.
  • Focus on the process of acquiring math skills as opposed to the end result or correct answer. In many STEM lessons, there is no one “right” answer.