Early Childhood Corner: The Earliest Geometry

Abstract

In keeping with the early childhood chapter of Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, this department examines activities and children's thinking in geometry and, in the next issue, number. From prekindergarten to grade 12, the Geometry Standard addresses four main areas: properties of shapes, location and spatial relationships, transformations and symmetry, and visualization. For each area, we quote the goal of the Standard and the associated early-childhood expectations. We then present snippets of research and sample activities to develop ideas within each area with students.