FMT3701 Assignment 2 2025 (Answer Guide) - Due 26 July 2025

FMT3701 Assignment 2 2025 (Answer Guide) - Due 26 July 2025 Question 1 1.1 Explain the concept “number sense” and its development (4 marks) Number sense refers to a child’s intuitive understanding of numbers, their magnitude, relationships, and how they are affected by operations. It involves the ability to use numbers flexibly for estimation, comparison, mental calculations, and problem-solving (Reys et al., 2015). It is not merely the ability to count or recognize numerals but encompasses a broader understanding of how numbers work. Development of number sense begins in early childhood and evolves through various stages. Initially, children show a basic awareness of quantity and number through perceptual subitizing (instantly recognizing small quantities without counting). As they grow, they begin verbal counting, then grasp the principles of counting (such as one-to-one correspondence and cardinality), and later understand place value, arithmetic operations, and numerical patterns (Gelman & Gallistel, 1978). Social interaction, language exposure, and hands-on activities significantly enhance this developmental process (Ginsburg, Lee & Boyd, 2008). 1.2 Distinguish between verbal and object counting, giving two (2) examples for each (10 marks) Verbal counting refers to the oral recitation of number words in a sequential order (e.g., “one, two, three…”). It is rote learning, which does not necessarily imply an understanding of quantity. It often precedes the child’s ability to associate each number word with a corresponding