We live in a three-dimensional world, but many of our learning environments offer few opportunities for three-dimensional exploration and developing the spatial reasoning that is integral to everyday life and to closing the achievement gap.
Developing these skills in children will cultivate their curiosity, persistence, and intellectual capacity beyond the narrow definitions of academic achievement. Exploring the 3-D World covers
current research on the effectiveness of developing spatial skills in the early yearsthe essential components of playful explorationkey spatial skills that are important for children to learnhow visual representations such as displays of data, drawing, and documentation open new pathways to learningvocabulary and conversation starters to expand learningactivities for families to try at home with recommended children’s books that reinforce the spatial skills introduced
The skills are accompanied with illustrated examples of activities taken from public preschool and kindergarten classrooms, private preschools and child care centers, and home settings.
Foreword
Introduction
Part One: What We Know About Teaching Spatial Skills
Chapter 1 – Definition and Rationale for Teaching Spatial Skills in the Early Years
Chapter 2 – Strategies for Teaching Math and Spatial Skills
Part Two: Playful Explorations
Chapter 3 – Essential Components of a Playful Exploration
Chapter 4 – Geometric Shapes & Properties
Chapter 5 – Patterns
Chapter 6 – Transforming, Composing & Decomposing
Chapter 7 – Visualization & Visual-Spatial Working Memory
Chapter 8 – Perspective Taking & Dimension Shifting
Chapter 9 – Spatial Orientation & Coding
Chapter 10 – Visual Representation
References
Acknowledgments
Index
