Learning Activities For Young Children - Developing Concepts Of Shape And Size (An Old And Rare Book)

I walked right royally into writing this manual, when my colleague Dr. Saraswathi said, "All this collecting, writing and organization of activities done by Gita and you for the dissertation, what do you plan to do with it?" Prof. Amita Verma with her infectious enthusiasm said, "Why not write an manual, an activity book for teachers of young children, it is indeed needed". I naively nodded.

Once the acceptance of the idea seeped in, it was not difficult to visualize a series of of activity books, beginning with pre-mathematics and pre-science activities ie, concepts of shape and size followed by mathematics, science and language activity books. The major aim is to provide teachers of young children and teacher educators with ideas and activities for the various components of a pre-school program. The program of activities for concepts of shape and size were developed and activities were conducted with the children of Chetan Balwadi, (Laboratory Nursery School of the Child Development Department). This field-testing of the program has helped us in checking the feasibility of administering such a program and making modifications wherever necessary.

This first manual in the series is divided into the following sections: 1. Introduction:

(a) highlights the characteristics of young children as learners.

(b) explains how the focus of program planning is on hierarchical organization of concepts and sub-concepts, and

(c) gives guidelines for using the manual.

2. Program of activities for concept of shapes and size.

3. Pre and post-assessment activities for determining the levels at which children are functioning.

4. Appendix: Forms for assessment.

The major work of planning and implementation of the program with the Chetan Balwadi children was done by Gita, which is now being presented here as a manual. Mrs. Aruna Dave, Lecturer, Child Development Department and Teacher, Kindergarten helped in administering the program. Administering the program was enjoyable, enlightening and an enchanting experience for us, it is hoped that teachers who will implement the program will enjoy working with children as much as we did. Children kept us on our toes' and though it can be tiring, it was exciting and exhilarating too!

A word of thanks to Prof. Amita Verma, Head, Child Development Department and Dean, Faculty of Home Science, Dr. T. S. Saraswathi, Ms. Kiran Parekh, Suprin tendent, Chetan Balwadi, Mrs. Aruna Dave, Mrs. Dropti Bhagia, other teachers of the Nursery School and Ms. Neena Kapoor for encouragement and assistance through various stages of the project. Thanks are extended to Gita's and my family members for their continued co-operation.

Veena Mistry