MFP1501 Assignment
2 2024 - 18 June 2024
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
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,MFP1501 Assignment 2 2024 - 18 June 2024
Question 1
Jacob and Willis (2003) outline hierarchical phases through which
multiplicative thinking develops, which include one-to-one counting, additive
composition, many-to-one counting, and multiplicative relations. Discuss each
phase to show how best you understand it. N.B. It should not be the same. Be
creative. (20)
One-to-One Counting
Description: One-to-one counting is the foundational phase where children learn
to count objects one at a time. Each object is paired with a single counting word,
ensuring a direct correspondence between the number of items and the number
words.
Example: Imagine a child playing with blocks. As they place each block into a
box, they count aloud: "one, two, three, four, five." This phase focuses on the
child's ability to correctly assign one number to each object, ensuring an accurate
count.
Educational Activity: A teacher might use a counting book where children have
to count the number of animals on each page. This reinforces the concept of one-
to-one correspondence as they point to each animal and say the corresponding
number.
Significance: This phase is crucial because it establishes the basic understanding
of numbers and counting, which is necessary for more complex mathematical
concepts. Without mastering one-to-one counting, a child would struggle with
higher-level arithmetic.
, Additive Composition
Description: Additive composition involves understanding that numbers can be
broken down into parts and recombined. Children learn that numbers are composed
of smaller numbers added together.
Example: Consider a child who has 7 apples. They realize that this total can be
broken down into 3 apples and 4 apples, or 5 apples and 2 apples, and still add up
to 7.
Educational Activity: A teacher might provide a set of 10 blocks and ask the
children to find all the different ways to group the blocks into two piles. For
instance, 1+9, 2+8, 3+7, etc. This exercise helps children see the flexibility of
numbers and the various ways they can be combined.
Significance: Additive composition is essential for understanding more complex
operations like addition and subtraction. It helps children see the relationships
between numbers and prepares them for multiplication and division.
Many-to-One Counting
Description: Many-to-one counting, also known as skip counting, involves
counting objects in groups or sets rather than individually. This phase introduces
the concept of multiplication as repeated addition.
Example: A child counting by twos might count: "2, 4, 6, 8, 10," instead of
counting each number individually. This method groups numbers into sets of two.
Educational Activity: A teacher might use a number line and ask children to place
markers at intervals of 5. By doing so, children practice counting by fives (5, 10,
15, 20, etc.), reinforcing the idea of grouping.