LaGinnise Walker

Child Development 143

Science and Math Observation

Science and Math Observation Reflection

My observation took place at Malcom X College, for science and math for young children ages
3-5 year olds. During this observation I noticed that the teacher to children ratio consisted of 3
teachers and 11 children. I also observed that the classroom setting had the correct interest area
materials, furnishing and excellent displayed around the classroom. I entered the childcare center
about 11:00am and I stayed until 1:00pm. When I arrived at the center the children were
interacting with each other as well as the teachers. At the moment it was circle time, and during
circle time the teacher had the children to dance before they sat down to participate. Allowing the
children to dance before sitting down allowed the children to wiggle all of their wiggles out.
Circle time included a lot of science activities as well as math and music.
Activities of the day that included science and math
Naming and recognizing colors (Science)
Whats the weather like today? (Science/Math)
Todays date (Math)
Letter of the day (Math)-children counted how many friends name began with the letter
L.
Shapes and numbers( Math)

The environment of the center was set up differently from many other centers that I have visited
and observed at. The children were very diverse and all of the children played very well together.
After circle time the children were allowed to choose any play area of their choice for free play.
Before children were able to select their play area they had to tell the teacher how many children
were allowed in that specific play center. By doing this small activity the teacher implemented
math and cognitive development. After children choose their play area I heard the teacher telling
the girls in housekeeping you have five minutes to play, this consisted of math. I observed that
no children went to the science area. Children branched off into the block area, two children
went to the writing center leaving the sand and water table empty. The sand and water table had
different materials inside allowing children the option of mixing water and sand together or just
utilizing the sand without water added. Before the timer went off two girls went to the sand and
water table. Everything in the classroom was neatly labeled in English and in Spanish, the play
areas were labeled correctly.
The play areas consisted of the following:

Music area (no children played)

Construction/Block area (math and two boys played)
Sand and water table (science two girls played)
Art Area (two children practiced writing)
Dramatic play area (children played)
Computers were out of order
When free play was over the teacher cut the light off and on to remind children that it was
clean up time. After cleaning up it was then story time, during story time the teacher
introduced new sight words to the children. The words were house, castle, and apartment
followed with pictures. The teacher had children to repeat the words after her. The
teacher decided on the story of the day which was The Three Little Kittens. The teacher
discussed math and science throughout the story.