View more in our Early Math Idea Library: https://earlymath.erikson.edu/ideas
A child estimates the number of cubes in a collection.
Why is this important?
More than 10 looks like a “bunch” to many preschoolers.
BIG IDEA:
Sets can be compared using the attribute of numerosity, and ordered by more than, less than, and equal to.
Some situations require comparing sets to answer the questions "how many more?" or "how many fewer?". Cultivating an understanding of comparison and ordering helps children build the understanding they need to think about a set in relationship to other sets and begin to make comparisons between numbers. Familiarity with this idea prepares children to address questions they will encounter in first and second grade, such as "If Ilan has ten crackers and Juanita has 8, how many more does Ilan have?"
Focus on the Child videos are taken from one-on-one interviews with individual children. The interviews are designed to elicit evidence of children’s mathematical thinking. They are not teaching episodes or formal assessments.