Inspiring Young Mathematicians Through Play for Black History Month

During Black History Month, learning about Katherine Johnson, an extraordinary mathematician whose love of numbers helped change history & send astronauts safely into space at NASA during a time when both women & Black Americans faced unfair barriers in science & education; her courage, determination, & brilliant thinking remind children that they can dream big & make a difference, & the book Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 brings her inspiring journey to life by sharing how she grew up, followed her passion for math, became a teacher, & later used her incredible skills to support historic space missions.

After reading the story to better understand her life, her impact, & why her story still matters today. This developmentally appropriate & engaging invitation was way a for children to explore numbers & one-to-one correspondence using loose parts. Sensory numbers & gems were placed out on the light table  the children to explore, sort, & count as they played.

In the early years, children learn best when they can touch, move, & explore. Hands-on experiences help children make stronger connections between what they see and do, so they are building real understanding, not just memorizing numbers. This kind of playful learning helps make math feel familiar, comfortable, & enjoyable.

As children develop number sense, they move through two key stages of counting: rote counting & one-to-one correspondence. Rote counting is reciting numbers in order, while one-to-one correspondence is matching one number to one object. This second stage is important because it helps children understand that numbers represent real amounts.

Open-ended, hands-on activities support this learning by helping children connect number symbols, spoken numbers, & real objects. As children count & place items, they build accuracy, focus, & confidence, & begin to see math as something they can explore & understand.