mathematical ability

The article substantiates the potential and pedagogical conditions for using loose parts to develop mathematical competence in preschool and primary school children. Loose parts are defined as natural, household, manufactured, or recycled materials with which children can engage in a variety of practical activities, including those involving mathematical content. These may include stones, sand, water, branches, leaves, seeds, shells, pieces of fabric, threads, cardboard boxes, bottle caps, containers, sticks, and other materials. It has been established that, at preschool age, the use of loose parts provides a sensory basis for developing concepts of quantity, number, shape, size, space, and patterns. In primary school, in addition to deepening this knowledge, the same materials can be used to support modeling, solving problems in several ways, testing assumptions, justifying strategies, and working with data. This enables continuity between preschool and primary education in the development of children’s mathematical competence. The potential of loose parts for developing mathematical competence in preschool and primary school children lies in the fact that they enable the practical acquisition of concepts related to number, shape, size, spatial relationships, and patterns, while stimulating the development of skills in counting, comparing, classifying, measuring, modeling, and problem-solving. Their use encourages learners’ independence, investigative activity, and the development of mathematical language. The following pedagogical conditions for using loose parts to develop mathematical competence in preschool and primary school children have been identified: ensuring the purposeful selection and diversification of materials; combining support for children’s initiative with the implementation of pedagogical intentions; and organizing mathematical reflection among preschool and primary school learners.

The article examines the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on the development of mathematical abilities and geometric concepts in preschool children. The object of the research is the process of developing mathematical abilities and geometric concepts in older preschool children. The aim of the article is to identify the pedagogical potential of ICT and evaluate its effectiveness in developing these abilities. The research methods include the analysis of scientific and methodological literature, pedagogical observation, game-based learning, pedagogical experimentation, and comparative analysis of the results. Multimedia presentations, interactive games, and electronic educational resources were used during the experimental activities. The methodologies of ICT-mediated learning and game-based learning were applied. The research outcomes indicate that the purposeful use of ICT contributes to the development of children's abilities to recognize, name, compare, and classify geometric shapes. It also promotes children's cognitive engagement, logical and spatial thinking, attention, and memory. The experimental results further revealed increased children's engagement and learning motivation. The conclusion of the study is that the pedagogically justified integration of information and communication technologies into game-based learning is an effective means of developing mathematical abilities and geometric concepts in preschool children, facilitating a more visual, interactive, and child-centered learning process.