James, an airplane buff
James is four years old. But he is not an ordinary four years old. He loves airplanes and knows more about airplanes than most adults would know. Certainly, James knows more about planes than I do.
One day in October last year, James had a routine four-year-old check up. Before I started my routine physical examination, I tested his math ability. I took my four "fraction blocks." I threw it in front of him on top of the examining table. I requested James to count the blocks. Without hesitation, James said, "four." I then arrange the four blocks to form a square. Then I asked him, "What shape is this?" He said, "Square." We did a high five and I said, "Good job."
I lifted one of the blocks and I told James, "This is one fourth." I placed it back to make a complete square again, and specifically said, "Now we have a whole square again." Then I took another block and said, "This is another one fourth." And I brought it back to restore the square again.
I lifted the third block, and I asked James, "What do you call this?" Without a delay, James responded, "One fourth." I showed my excitement by saying, "Great." And we did a high five again. Then I took two of blocks and held it with its sides touching each other forming a rectangle and I asked him, "What do you call this?" James said deliberately, "Two fourths." I then took another block and held the three of them in an "L" form, and I asked James, "What do you call this now?" "Three fourths," without faltering. Then I took the last block and brought it up with the three to form a square and I queried him, "Now what is do you call this?" James without delay in responding said, "Four fourths."
Then I took two rectangular blocks forming a square the size of which is the same as the four blocks that I used to demonstrate fractions of fourths to James. I lifted one of the rectangle and I told James, "This is one half." And I placed it back touching the side of the other rectangle forming a square. Then I lifted the other rectangle and I asked James, "What do you call this?" He said, "One half."
I took two of the square blocks that I used to demonstrate "fourths" and placed it on top of one the rectangle, and I said, "Two fourths is the same as one half" holding both the rectangle and two of the "fourth" blocks together showing that both of them are of the same size.
I returned the rectangle to its original position with the other rectangle to form a square again. While still holding the two square blocks with its side touching each other, I asked James, "What to do you call this?" He said, "One half."
Then I drew a circle about 6 inches diameter with a ball pen on the white examining table. I drew a line dividing the circle into two halves. I shaded with a ball pen one half of the circle. I asked James, "What to you call this" He said, "semi-circle." I was surprised with his answer, but he was right, so I said, "you're right, a semi-circle." But what else to you call it," James said, "One half."
I drew another circle and divided it into fourths. James was able to identify one fourth, two fourths, three fourths, and four fourths of the circle.
I changed the topic and I asked him, "What do you call the person who flies an airplane?" He said, "Wright brothers." His mother interrupted and asked, "In what state was the first airplane made?" James said, "North Carolina." In what town his mom asked, and he said, "Kitty Hawk." "What is the name of the bomber that dropped the atomic bombs at Hiroshima?" James had a quick answered, "Enola gay." James collects small airplane models. He knows a lot about airplanes more than most adults.
James is one of my smartest patients who is a "graduate" of our smart baby program at our office.