Effective Practices in Early Childhood Education, 3e (Bredekamp)
Chapter 13 Teaching Children to Investigate and Solve Problems:
Mathematics, Science, and Technology
1) What does STEM stand for?
A) Supporting Teacher’s Education in Mathematics
B) Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics
C) Systematic Training in Education for Mathematics
D) Systems To Enhance Mathematics
2) What skills in kindergarten are the strongest predictors of later school achievement and
executive function?
A) reading
B) technology
C) mathematics
D) science
3) Anthony is 7 and can now accurately predict the outcome of simple science experiments that
they do in class. This is an example of
A) cognitive development
B) physical development
C) social development
D) visual literacy
4) Karen and her friends are playing airport. Karen is a passenger and she needs to make sure
that she stays seated while the plane is flying. Which executive function is this an example of?
A) physical restraint
B) inhibitory control
C) cognitive flexibility
D) emotional regulation
5) Which of the following is an example of subitizing?
A) The child is able to take 1 block away from 3 blocks and count that 2 blocks are left.
B) The child can solve the problem 4 – 2 = 2.
C) The child can look at a group of 4 crackers and know that there are 4 crackers without
counting.
D) The child is interested in counting and problems that involve taking away objects in word
problems.
6) Informal knowledge about math, such as shape and pattern, is called what?
A) cognitive flexibility
B) mathematizing
C) math vocabulary
D) everyday mathematics
7) At what age are children expected to be able to know number names and count 1 to 10 in
sequence?
A) 2 years old
B) 3 years old
C) 4 years old
D) 5 years old
8) The idea that anything (people, cats, crackers, etc.) can be counted is called what?
A) abstraction
B) cardinality
C) order irrelevance principle
D) simple counting
9) Which of the following is an example of nonstandard measurement?
A) children using a ruler to measure how tall they are
B) children comparing rocks to see which one is heavier
C) children using their feet to measure how long the hallway is
D) children counting the days on a calendar
10) Singing “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed” and using your fingers to count the
monkeys is an example of what?
A) communicating
B) reasoning
C) everyday mathematics
D) representation
11) Hazel is playing a dice game with several children. She asks each to first count the dots, and
then asks them what shape the dice are. This is an example of
A) everyday mathematics
B) math talk
C) logic lingo
D) subitizing
12) What is the purpose of science?
A) to explain where we come from
B) to be able to explain the basic ideas of the properties of objects
C) to realize we need to study more about the different systems
D) to study the physical and natural world, especially by observing and experimenting
13) Luka has a large plant in the classroom. Every week, the children notice and record changes
of that plant. This is an example of which type of science?
A) system sciences
B) evidence sciences
C) life sciences
D) physical sciences
14) Which would be appropriate topics of study in a preschool curriculum to teach life sciences?
A) Children notice the movement of the sun and the moon.
B) Children notice the change in the seasons.
C) Children water plants and feed classroom pets.
D) Children keep track of weather patterns.
15) According to the NAEYC Technology and Young Children Interest Forum (2008), how does
technology affect learning?
A) “Technology does not drive purposeful learning; teachers’ intentional instructional planning
does.”
B) “Technology remains neutral in the learning of young children, neither good nor bad.”
C) “Currently we see no place for technology in an early childhood curriculum, since it does not
enhance learning for young children.”
D) “Programs need to switch to a more comprehensive curriculum that includes technology in all
areas of the child’s environment. Technology is here to stay and children should start learning
about it.”
16) Explain what is meant by the “Language of Mathematics.”
17) Explain how mathematics can be taught in play. Provide one example for number and
operation, geometry, spatial awareness, measurement, and patterning.
18) Visit a child care center. Describe and evaluate how science is incorporated into children’s
learning experiences.
19) Visit a child care center. Describe and evaluate how mathematics is incorporated into
children’s learning experiences.
20) Describe how technology can be used appropriately in the early childhood classroom.
Chapter 13- Teaching Children to Investigate and Solve Problems: Mathematics, Science,
and Technology