Preschool teachers use the domino effect--standing dominos on end in rows and pushing one over--to examine how play contributes to children's acquisition of knowledge. Using diagrams, photos, and vignettes of children between the ages of 3 and 5 years, the authors demonstrate how children at different stages of development use physical knowledge…

This article describes the modifications that 12 early childhood educators in Japan made to the Sorry! board game to encourage kindergartners' logico-mathematical thinking. Logico-mathematical knowledge is described as including classification, seriation, numerical relationships, spatial relationships, and temporal relationships. Examples of seven…

Discusses how one's conception of intelligence and its development profoundly affects the formulation of educational objectives. A mechanistic conception of intelligence leads to the definition of objectives as a collection of fragmented "cognitive skills", while a Piagetian conception attempts to develop children's intelligence as an organized…

Points out adult behaviors likely to help children develop responsibility. Discussion focuses on the inadvisability of using reward and punishment, the importance of exchanging viewpoints with children and letting them make decisions, and the importance of beginning training for autonomy in the early years. (RH)

Suggests improving primary education through more scientific approaches to understanding various philosophies, especially child development and Piagetian theories and their theoretical links to educational practices. Recommends defining educational objectives based on precise scientific knowledge of children's construction of knowledge in an…

Argues that the underdeveloped state of knowledge in education results in decreased autonomy for teachers. Piagetian constructivism is advanced as a way toward basing educational practice on scientific foundations and toward increasing teachers' autonomy. Suggestions for improving teacher training are offered and directions for the future of…

Maintains that young children learn to think when they act on objects, thus developing what Piaget refers to as physical and logico-mathematical knowledge. Teachers can encourage thinking/mental action by creating situations that are personally meaningful to the children, by providing decision-making opportunities, and by providing opportunities…

Describes children's process of constructing their own knowledge by going through one level after another of being "wrong" and relates this process to reading. Describes six strategies children invent and discusses implications for teaching. (AS)