Research Article

The connections children develop between science and mathematics: An example of temperature measurement in the kindergarten

Zoe Konstantinidou 1 * , Filippos Brentas 1 , Maria Stamatoglou 2
More Detail
1 School of Early Childhood Education, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GREECE2 Department of Early Childhood Care and Education, International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, GREECE* Corresponding Author
Contemporary Mathematics and Science Education, 5(1), 2024, ep24004, https://doi.org/10.30935/conmaths/14385
Published: 22 March 2024
OPEN ACCESS   395 Views   1086 Downloads
Download Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

Children gain experiences that enables them to build concepts through everyday activities, while the use of cultural tools leads them to the development of early mathematical experiences. This paper presents a case study in a public kindergarten classroom in a semi-urban area of Greece (n=21), where discussion and recording of temperature sparked children’s interest in using the thermometer as a cultural tool. By observing children engaging in mathematical experiences related to number construction through a lesson plan it was evident that children tried to explain the use and function of the thermometer.

CITATION (APA)

Konstantinidou, Z., Brentas, F., & Stamatoglou, M. (2024). The connections children develop between science and mathematics: An example of temperature measurement in the kindergarten. Contemporary Mathematics and Science Education, 5(1), ep24004. https://doi.org/10.30935/conmaths/14385

REFERENCES

  1. Anthony, G., & Walshaw, M. (2009). Mathematics education in the early years: Building bridges. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 10(2), 107-121. https://doi.org/10.2304/ciec.2009.10.2.107
  2. Berk, L., & A. Winsler. (1995). Scaffolding children’s learning: Vygotsky and early childhood education. National Association for the Education of Young Children.
  3. Cheeseman, J., McDonough, A., & Ferguson, S. (2012). The effects of creating rich learning environments for children to measure mass. In J. Dindyal, L. P. Cheng, & S. F. Ng (Eds.), Proceedings of the 35th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia) (pp. 178-185). MERGA.
  4. Christidou, V., Tsevreni, I., Epitropou, M., & Kittas, C. (2013). Exploring primary children’s views and experiences of the school ground: The case of a Greek school. International Journal of Environmental & Science Education, 8(1), 59-83.
  5. Christodoulakis, Ν., & Adbo, Κ. (2024). An analysis of the development of preschoolers’ natural science concepts from the perspective of framework theory. Education Sience, 4, 126. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14020126
  6. Coltman, P. (2006). Talk of a number: Self-regulated use of mathematical metalanguage by children in the foundation stage. Early Years, 26(1), 31-48. https://doi.org/10.1080/09575140500507819
  7. DeCorte, E., Verschaffel, L., & Op’t Eynde, P. (2000). Self-regulation: A characteristiv and a goal of mathematics education. In M. Boekaerts, P. R. Pintrich, & M. Zeidner (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulation (pp. 687-726). Academic Press.
  8. Dunphy, E. (2006). An exploration of young children’s number sense on entry to school in Ireland [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Open University.
  9. Elia, I., & Gagatsis, A. (2006). The effects of different modes of representation on problem solving: Two experimental programs. In J. Novotina, H. Horaova, M. Kratka, & N. Stehlikova (Eds.), Proceedings of the 30th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (pp. 25-32). PME.
  10. Elia, I., & Philippou, G. (2004). The functions of pictures in problem solving. In M. Johnsen Hoines, & A. B. Fuglestad (Eds.), Proceedings of the 28th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (pp. 327-334). Bergen University College.
  11. Evangelou, M., Sylva, K., Edwards, A., & Smith, T. (2008). Supporting parents in promoting early learning: The evaluation of the early learning partnership project. Department for Children, Schools and Families.
  12. Fleer, M., & Hardy, T. (2001). Science for children: Developing a personal approach to teaching. Prentice Hall.
  13. Fragkiadaki, G., & Ravanis, K. (2016). Genetic research methodology meets early childhood science education research: A cultural-historical study of child’s scientific thinking development. Cultural-Historical Psychology, 12(3), 310-330. https://doi.org/10.17759/chp.2016120319
  14. Gerhátová, Ž., Perichta, P., Drienovský, M., & Palcut, M. (2021). Temperature measurement–Inquiry-based learning activities for third graders. Education Sciences, 11(9), 506. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11090506
  15. Greens, C., Ginsburg, H., & Balfanz, R. (2004). Big math for little kids. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 19, 159-166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2004.01.010
  16. Havu-Nuutinen, S. (2007). Young children’s conceptions of temperature and thermometer. The International Journal of Learning Annual Review, 12(9), 93-102. https://doi.org/10.18848/1447-9494/CGP/v14i09/58637
  17. Helenius, O., Johansson, L. M., Lange, T., Meaney, T., & Wernberg, A. (2016). Measuring temperature within the didaktic space of preschool. Nordic Studies in Mathematics Education, 21(4), 155-176.
  18. Inan, Η. Ζ., Trundle, Κ. C., & Kantor, R. (2010). Understanding natural sciences education in a Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 47(10), 1186-1208.
  19. Institute of Educational Policy, Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs. (2014). Kindergarten curriculum. Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs. http://hdl.handle.net/10795/1947
  20. Ioannou, M., Kaliampos, G., Fragkiadaki, G., Pantidos, P., & Ravanis, K. (2023). Thermal concepts and phenomena in early chidhood science education: A literature review. European Journal of Education Studies, 10(5), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v10i5.4770
  21. Kaldrimidou, M. (2002). Teachers’ role in the management of mathematical knowledge: An analysis of a problem-solving process. In A. Cockburn, & E. Nardi (Eds.), Proceedings of the 26th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (pp. 169-176). University of East Anglia.
  22. Kampeza, M., Vellopoulou, A., Fragkiadaki, G., & Ravanis, K. (2016). The expansion thermometer in preschoolers’ thinking. Journal of Baltic Science Education, 15(2), 185-193. https://doi.org/10.33225/jbse/16.15.185
  23. Konstantinidou Z. (2018). Play as a learning framework for the approach to natural sciences at young ages “how to blow it?” I haven’t taken physics lessons!’’ Kindergarten children guide their own learning about the concept of air through their spontaneous actions during free play. In Proceedings of the 10th Panhellenic Conference–Science in Preschool Education Science, Education, Culture.
  24. LeFevre, J., Skwarchuk, S. L., Smith-Chant, B. L., Fast, L., Kamawar, D., & Bisanz, J. (2009). Home numeracy experiences and children’s math performance in the early school years. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 41, 55-66. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014532
  25. Lewis, E. L., & Linn, M. C. (2003). Heat energy and temperature concepts of adolescents, adults and experts: Implications for curricular improvements. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 40, 155-175.
  26. Lindemann-Matthies, P. (2006). Investigating nature on the way to school: Responses to an educational program by teachers and their pupils. International Journal of Science Education, 28, 895-918. https://doi.org/10.1080/10670560500438396
  27. Luwel, K., Verschaffel, L., Onghena, P., & Corte, E.D. (2001). Children’s strategies for numerosity judgment in square grids: The relationship between process and product data. In M. Van Den Heuvel-Panhuizen (Ed.), Proceedings of the 25th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (pp. 329-336). Utrech University.
  28. Martín-Díaz, J. P., Montes, M., Codes, M., & Carillo, J. (2020). Characterisers of teaching in a mathematics problem posing lesson in preschool education. Sustainability, 12(15), 6148-6166. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12156148
  29. Mason, J. (2008). Making use of children’s powers to produce algebraic thinking. In J. J. Kaput, D. W. Carraher, & M. L. Blanton (Eds.), Algebra in the early years (pp. 57-94). Lawrence Erlbaum. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315097435-4
  30. Montague-Smith, A., & Price, A. J. (2012). Mathematics in the early years. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203810385
  31. Mullis, I. V. S., Martin, M. A., Foy, P., & Arora, A. (2012). TIMSS 2011 international results in mathematics. TIMSS and PIRLS International Study Center.
  32. NCTM. (2010a). Making it happen: A guide to interpreting and implementing common core state standards for mathematics. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
  33. NCTM. (2010b). Position statement: Early childhood mathematics: Promoting good beginnings. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
  34. NRC. (2009). Mathematics learning in early childhood: Paths towards excellence and equity. The National Academies Press.
  35. Papandreou, M., & Konstantinidou, Z. (2020). ‘We make stories one meter long’: Children’s participation and meaningful mathematical learning in ECE. Review of Science, Mathematics and ICT Education, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.26220/rev.3511
  36. Papandreou, M., & Tsiouli, M. (2022). Noticing and understanding children’s everyday mathematics during play in early childhood classrooms. International Journal of Early Years Education, 30(4), 730-747. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669760.2020.1742673
  37. Perry, B., & Dockett, S. (2002). Young children’s access to powerful mathematical ideas. In L. D. English (Ed.), Handbook of international research in mathematics education: Directions for the 21st century (pp. 81-111). Erlbaum.
  38. Polya, G. (1967). Comment poser er resoudre un probleme [How to pose and resolve a problem]. Dunod.
  39. Qonita, S., E., Suhandi, A., Maftuh, B., Hermita, N., Handayani, H., Nurafifah, R., Ningsih, A. R., Gumala, Y., Maulana D., & Samsudi, A. (2019). Identifying kindergarten children’s idea about heat and temperature concept. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1280, 052018. https://doi.org/10.1088/17426596/1280/5/052018
  40. Stamatoglou, M. (2023) ‘They are my friends!’ Findings from an ethnographic study on young children’s experiences of nursery play and learning. European Journal of Education Studies, 11(1), 29-45. https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v11i1.5144
  41. Vellopoulou, A., & Ravanis, K. (2010). A methodological tool for approaching the didactic transposition of the natural sciences in kindergarten school: The case of the “states and properties of matter” in two Greek curricula. Review of Science, Mathematics and ICT Education, 4(2), 29-42.
  42. Verschaffel, L. (2002). Taking the modelling prespective seriously at the elementary school level: Promises and pitfalls. In A. Cockburn, & E. Nardi (Eds.), Proceedings of the 26th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (pp. 64-80). University of East Anglia.
  43. Vygotsky, L. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.
  44. Whitebread, D. (2007), Developing independence in learning. In J. Moyles (Ed.), Early years foundations: Meeting the challenge (pp. 220-238). Open University Press.
  45. Wood, E., & Attfield, J. (2005). Play, learning and the early childhood curriculum. Paul Chapman Publishing.
  46. Zacharos, K., Koustourakis, G., & Papadimitriou, K. (2013). Analysing the implemented of curriculum of mathematics in preschool education. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 26, 151-167. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13394-013-0086-3