Number Conservation

Conservation of numbers means that a child can understand that the number of objects remains the same even when rearranged. Visual discrimination seems to get in the way of understanding number conservation. Students who have not developed number conservation believe that the value must be greater if an object takes up more space. If the objects take up less space, the value must be smaller—the number of objects increases or decreases just by moving the objects around. The student concludes that if objects are rearranged, the values change. Let me explain.

Try this with a child between the ages of 3-6. Most five-year-olds are not able to have number conservation. (see image)

1. Make 2 equal rows of the ten objects in front of your child. Make them both equally spread out so that they look exactly the same.

   1. Ask your child to count the top row

   2. Ask your child to count the bottom row

   3. Ask your child if the rows are the same (the answer is YES)

2. Now take the row of 10 objects closest to your child and spread them out so that the row looks different than the top row.

1. Ask your child if both rows have the same amount of objects.

If the answer is NO, this means that your child does not have a conservation of numbers. Most children are not able to do this until between ages 5- 7.

How to Develop Number Conservation

Count- rearrange and count again—lots of counting practice and rearrangement. You can place some objects onto the table and have students count them. Then have the child rearrange the objects or toss them on the floor or into a basket and have them count the objects again to see if there is the same amount. Practicing this in a variety of ways helps students develop this number conservation!