FTCE Pre-K Prekindergarten PK-3 Practice Exam

Which of the following activities aids in understanding the concept of addition in children?

1. Counting objects

2. Subtraction exercises

3. Creating patterns

4. Flat drawing shapes

The correct answer is: Counting objects

Counting objects is a fundamental activity that effectively aids children in understanding the concept of addition. This hands-on approach allows children to visually and physically engage with the numbers they are working with. When children count objects, they can see each item's individual value and how combining groups of objects leads to a greater total. This concrete experience helps solidify their understanding of how addition works, as they are actively creating a sum through manipulation of the objects. The other activities, while beneficial in their own right, do not directly focus on the addition concept as effectively as counting does. Subtraction exercises tend to focus on reducing quantities rather than increasing them, which does not bolster addition skills. Creating patterns might develop children’s understanding of sequences but does not specifically address numerical addition. Flat drawing shapes does encourage creativity and spatial awareness, but it does not provide a direct link to the fundamental concepts of addition.