1. Your brother, Pretesh, is concerned that his two-year old daughters counting ability is well below average. When she counts, his daughter will say, one, two, c, doordoor balls when counting the four balls in a picture book. What can you tell Pretesh about the mastery of the principles of counting that will reassure him that his daughters counting ability is fine?
2. You are the parent of two young children, ages 4 and 6 years. They have been playing outside and they come running inside asking for a drink. All of the drinking glasses in the house, except two, are dirty. One of these glasses is tall and narrow and the other is short and squat. You KNOW that your children will argue with each other if one thinks that the other child is getting more to drink. Based on your knowledge of conservation of liquid in preoperational children, what should you do to avoid an argument? Explain your answer.
3. You have been watching your friend Deb trying to teach her son Sean how to do a puzzle. Sean has done this puzzle many times and he usually just needs help with the pieces that are in a difficult area that is all black. Deb is trying to help Sean but her instructions would be appropriate for a child who has never done the puzzle before. What can you tell Deb about Vygotskys theory in general, and scaffolding, in particular, that might help her teach Sean in more effective ways?
