Math Lab
How do children learn Mathematics?
It is important that learners acquire mathematical understanding by constructing their own meaning through ever-increasing levels of abstraction, starting with exploring their own personal experiences, understandings and knowledge. To provide immense opportunities to learn and experience Math in foundation years, we at Symbiosis, believe in giving them lots of hands-on materials to touch, feel and actually count the objects, learn concepts of place value by using the place value blocks and use manipulatives to explore different Math concepts.
The Math Lab is a time assigned each week where children use manipulative materials and perform mathematical experiments, play Math games, solve puzzles and engage in the process of learning. The fundamental idea of the Math lab is that it is activity centred, allowing children to discover the uniqueness of Math by exploring manipulatives. Manipulating concrete objects enables the child to bridge the gap between the real and abstract world.
What is the purpose of the Math Lab?
- To emphasise on learning by doing.
- To provide children with opportunities to discover and understand mathematical concepts through their active involvement in solving problems.
- To develop physical involvement in order to add new ideas to their cognitive structure.
- To make children think, look for patterns and ask questions.
- To develop an attitude of inquiry.
