Usha and the Big Digger by Amitha Jagannath Knight

Author:Amitha Jagannath Knight [Knight, Amitha Jagannath]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Published: 2021-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Exploring the Math

While staring up at the same seven stars, Aarti, Usha, and Gloria each see something

different. Aarti sees the Big Dipper, Usha sees the Big Digger, and Gloria sees the

Big Kite. Usha eventually figures out that they see different things because they are

looking at the sky from different orientations.

As the girls turn and change positions, they explore rotation, orientation,

perspective, and other geometric and spatial concepts. Young children with strong

spatial skills can do better in math and science in school.

Try This!

One person uses blocks or boxes to

build something; the others try to copy it.

For an extra challenge, give children just a

minute to look at the original before trying

to create a replica from memory.

With your children, take photos of an

object from different angles and

perspectives. Talk about how and why the

pictures vary.

One person secretly picks an object in

the room and describes what it would

look like upside down. The others try to

identify it.

Talk about positions and orientations

during everyday interactions. “The tree

is to the left of the house.” “Let’s turn this

book around so we can see the spine.”

As you go about the day with children, look for opportunities

to point out how orientation and point of view can affect

what we see. What’s right side up looks upside down when

you stand on your head!

—Geetha Ramani, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland

Visit www.charlesbridge.com/storytellingmath

for more activities.

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