Re:Do the math: too much calculus? (2012)
by Shorel on Thursday October 20, 2016 @05:49PM
(#12756485)
We can teach intuitive integral calculus in kindergarden:
Have lots and lots of ping pong balls handy, and try to measure the volume of everyday things in ping pong balls.
Exact results are not a requirement and in fact they don't matter at all for this early age, only the intuitive visualization.
We can teach the concepts of squares, cubes and prime numbers using the ping pong balls as well: Get for example nine balls and form a square shape. Squares are numbers that can form that shape. Similar for cubes. Factorization in two factors is arranging the balls in a rectangle. A prime number is any number that can't be arranged in a rectangle.
All this is intuitive, children can understand it easily, and it will help them in the future.
And all this is before they learn about equations and algebra, it's even before fractional numbers.
Have lots and lots of ping pong balls handy, and try to measure the volume of everyday things in ping pong balls.
Exact results are not a requirement and in fact they don't matter at all for this early age, only the intuitive visualization.
We can teach the concepts of squares, cubes and prime numbers using the ping pong balls as well: Get for example nine balls and form a square shape. Squares are numbers that can form that shape. Similar for cubes. Factorization in two factors is arranging the balls in a rectangle. A prime number is any number that can't be arranged in a rectangle.
All this is intuitive, children can understand it easily, and it will help them in the future.
And all this is before they learn about equations and algebra, it's even before fractional numbers.