Knowledge Under Construction: The Importance of Play in Developing Children's Spatial and Geometric Thinking

Knowledge Under Construction: The Importance of Play in Developing Children's Spatial and Geometric Thinking
ISBN-10
0742547884
ISBN-13
9780742547889
Category
Education / Schools / Levels / Elementary
Pages
257
Language
English
Published
2007
Publisher
Rowman & Littlefield
Authors
Stephen J. Farenga, Daniel Ness

Description

Knowledge under Construction investigates how young children develop spatial, geometric, and scientific thinking skills-particularly those associated with architecture. Based on original research and analysis of videotapes of children's play with blocks, the authors' findings suggest that such play is anything but pointless. Their conclusions fill in gaps in our current understanding of how children learn to think spatially and scientifically even while challenging portions of that understanding, including some of Piaget's thesis about the primacy of topological space in children's learning. A system of measurement developed to identify and categorize children's spontaneous behavior at play allows adults to observe patterns of behavior as children play and record the development of process skills and cognitive abilities, enhancing our understanding of how children begin to learn about space and architectural relationships. The book also examines the educational implications of our enhanced understanding. One possible development is a new, alternative way to measure cognitive abilities and development in children based on their work with blocks.

Get the book

Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Search the book
eBay.com
eBay.com
Search the book

Other editions

Similar books

  • Language and Literacy Learning in the Early Years: An Integrated Approach
    Language and Literacy Learning in the Early Years: An Integrated Approach
    By Susan B. Neuman

    In D. Strickland & L. M. Morrow ( Eds . ) , Emerging literacy : Young children learn to read and write ( pp . 16–26 ) . GOODMAN , K. ( 1986 ) . What's whole in whole language . Portsmouth , NH : : Heinemann . GOODMAN , K. ( 1991 ) .

  • The Structure of Communication in Early Language Development
    The Structure of Communication in Early Language Development
    By Patricia Marks Greenfield, Joshua H. Smith

    Miller , W. , and Ervin S. 1964. The development of grammar in child language . In U. Bellugi and R. W. Brown ( Eds . ) ... Olson , D. 1968. Language acquisition and cognitive development . Paper presented at the International ...

  • Using Poetry Across the Curriculum: A Whole Language Approach
    Using Poetry Across the Curriculum: A Whole Language Approach
    By Barbara Chatton

    ... 171, 180-81 Estes, Eleanor, 75 Ethnic groups, 79-82 Everett Anderson 's Christmas Coming, 58, 81 Everett Anderson's Goodbye, 81, 123 Everett Anderson 's Nine Month Long, 58,71, 81 Everett Anderson's Year, 39 Everybody Needs a Rock, ...

  • Beyond the Blueprint: Directions for Research on Head Start's Families
    Beyond the Blueprint: Directions for Research on Head Start's Families
    By Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Institute of Medicine, Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education

    In this book, a roundtable of representatives from government, universities, medicine, and family support agencies identifies a set of research possibilities to generate a broader understanding of the effects of Head Start on families and ...

  • Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally
    Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally
    By John A. Van de Walle

    John A. Van de Walle has written a book that helps readers make sense of mathematics and become confident in their ability to teach mathematics to children K to 8....

  • Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally
    Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally
    By John A. Van de Walle, Jennifer M. Bay-Williams, Karen Karp

    “It is fun to figure out the puzzle of how children go about making sense of mathematics and then how to help teachers help kids.” John A. Van...

  • Thinking Out Loud on Paper: The Student Daybook as a Tool to Foster Learning
    Thinking Out Loud on Paper: The Student Daybook as a Tool to Foster Learning
    By Lil Brannon

    Not to be confused with a daily-planner daybook that organizes time, the student daybook helps organize thoughts-across time, across subject areas. It helps learners build lasting connections between reflection and...

  • Elementary Classroom Management
    Elementary Classroom Management
    By C. M. Charles, Gail W. Senter

    Elementary Classroom Management, Second Edition, offers elementary school teachers-in-training a remarkably concise and accessible guide to managing classroom behavior successfully. Written in an informal tone, the text skillfully interweaves research...

  • Elementary Classroom Management: Lessons from Research and Practice
    Elementary Classroom Management: Lessons from Research and Practice
    By Andrew, Carol Simon Weinstein, Jr. Mignano

    Written in a lively, engaging, conversational style that teacher education students appreciate, Elementary Classroom Management combines what research has to say about effective classroom management with knowledge culled from practice....

  • Classroom Management for Elementary Teachers
    Classroom Management for Elementary Teachers
    By Edmund T. Emmer, Carolyn M. Evertson

    Classroom Management for Elementary Teachers, 8/eEvertson /Emmer (0205578624) "Classroom Management for Elementary Teachers, Eighth Edition, " gives teachers the information and skills they need to establish management systems in today's...