3 Semester Hours

ESSE 592, Integrating Mathematics and Science Across the Curriculum, PK-3, is a graduate-level class with a theory-into-practice goal. The focus for this class will be to develop and use teaching strategies and techniques in the content area of mathematics and science, which are based on Piaget's theory of constructivism and are compatible with the NCTM & NSE Standards and the Virginia SOLs.  Practical ways of encouraging thinking about math and science by young children, PK-3, and the natural integration of these subjects across the early childhood curriculum will be emphasized.

Integrating Mathematics and Science Across the Curriculum has the four-fold purpose of acquainting and/or assisting the professional educator with:

1. strategies to promote logico-mathematical knowledge (forming relationships) and physical knowledge (involving movement and change), and which are developmentally appropriate for ALL children between the ages of four and eight years old including those with gifts, disabilities and/or developmental delays;
2. providing a foundation for future science and math studies and promoting the idea that anyone can be a scientist and/or a mathematician;
3. determining appropriate methods of integrating mathematics and science across the early childhood curriculum that address the NCTM & NSE Standards, as well as the Virginia Standards of Learning;
4. suggestions to excite kids and teachers and administrators about science and math!