“It is with children that we have the best

chance of studying the development of

logical knowledge, mathematical
knowledge, physical knowledge and a
faith.”
-Jean Piaget
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, you should be able to;
• examine the cognitive characteristics of intermediate
school children.
• discuss important factors that affect the cognitive
development of intermediate school children.
• enumerate ways on how teachers can promote creativity
in the learning environment, learning acivities and
instructional materials.
Introduction
Since children in this stage are already in their late childhood,
rapid development of mental skills is evident. According to Jean Piaget,
concrete operational thinkers can now organize thoughts effectively,
although, they can only logically perceive the immediate situation. They
can apply what they have learned to situations and events that they can
manipulate.
Thus their reasoning and logical thingking are still very limited.
But with proper guidance and nurturance from parents, teachers and the
rest of the community, these children can easily succeed in their
intellectual endeavors.
Initial Cognitive Characteristics
Intermediate school children greatly enjoy the cognitive abilities
that they can now utilize. Their thinking skills have become more
effective as compared to more primary years. Their school work is now
more complicated. Reading texts have become longer, problem-solving
have become everyday part of their daily lives.
Their ability to use logic and reasoning give them chances of
thinking about what they want and how to get it. They now become very
interested in talking about the future or even their potential careers.
They develop speacial interests in collections, hobbies, and sports. They
are even capable of understanding concepts without having direct hands
on ideas.
Reading Development
Children in this state, is marked by a wide
application of word attack. Because of the presence of
the previous knowledge, they now have a wide
vocabulary, which enables them to understand the
meanings of unknown words through context
clues.They no longer into theiry tales and magic
types of stories but are more interested in longer and
more complex reading materials,
Attention

Older children have longer and more flexible

attention span compared to young children. Their
span of attention is dependent on how much is
required by the given tasks. In terms of school
work, older children can concentrate and focus
more for longer period of hours especially if they
are highly interested in what they are doing.
Creativity
Children on this stage are open to explore new things. Creativity is
innate in children, they just need a little guidance and support from
parents, teachers and people around them. They are usually at their best
when the work is done in small pieces.
Creativity in children in encouraged when the activities:
• encourage different responses from each child.
• celebrate uniqueness
• break stereotypes
• value process over product
• reduce stress and anxiety in children
• support to share ideas, not only with the teacher/ parent but also with other children.
• minimize competition and external rewards.
The Impact of Media
 The dream of having a television unit in every classroom started in the
1950's. It was considered as one of the first technological advancements in
schools. The impact of the use of television and other media like the computer
has gained popularity because students are given more opportunity to:
• communicate effectively in speech and in writing
• work collaboratively
• use technological tools
• analyze problems, set goals, and formulate strategies for achieving those
goals
• seek out information of skills on their own, as needed, to meet their goals.
Media and Aggression
Violence and Aggresion are often dubbed as of the results of
media. According to the Public Health Summit in 2000, the following
are some negative results of media:
• Children will increase anti-social and aggresive behavior.
• Children may become less sensitive to violence and those who suffer
from violence.
• Children may view the world as violent and mean, becoming more
fearful of being a victim of violence
• Children will desire to see more violence in entertainment and real
life.
 The school and the home provide children with unlimited
access to media, not only televisions and computers but also videos,
movies, comic books, and musical lyrics. The responsibility now lies
with the parents, teachers and the whole community. It should be a
collective effort among the factors working together to support
children in every aspects of development.
Having a role model is extremely important for children at
this stage of transition. It gives children an adult to admire and
emulate. Role models also provide them with motivation to suceed.
One of the most important roles of teachers is to become a very
good role model to children.
Teachers
• need to be an eager participant in children's groeth and
development.
• must understand how to use the children's natural
curiosoty to help make the appropriate development leaps
in their skills and abilities.
• must create an atmosphere where risks can be taken
and discoveries made while children remain safe.