ERIC Number: EJ1093385
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 8
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0819-4564
EISSN: N/A
Where Is the Square? Activities to Stimulate Spatial Reasoning
Obara, Samuel
Australian Senior Mathematics Journal, v27 n1 p21-28 2013
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM, 1989, 2000) and the new "Australian Curriculum: Mathematics" for senior secondary (ACARA, 2010) highlight the importance of teaching spatial reasoning as early as preschool when mathematics is introduced. Studies have shown that there is a relationship between spatial abilities and mathematical achievement (Burnett, Lane, & Dratt, 1979; Casey, Nuttall, Pezaris, & Benbow, 1995; Geary, Saults, Liu, & Hoard, 2000). Activities that enhance spatial reasoning skills are invaluable to, and should be encouraged in, classroom instruction. Casey, Andrews, Schindler, Kersh, Samper, and Copley (2008) define spatial skills as "the ability to think and reason through the comparison, manipulation, and transformation of mental pictures" (p. 270). In this article, the author presents an activity (Aichele & Wolfe, 2007, p. 11) to pre-service high school teachers. Though the activity seems simple, it can be challenging to students who have not been exposed to spatial tasks. The activity goal is to create a square from a given polygon by making one straight cut so that two pieces, when put together without overlap or gaps, form a square.
Descriptors: Mathematics Instruction, Spatial Ability, Mathematical Logic, Logical Thinking, Learning Activities, Preservice Teachers, High Schools, Secondary School Teachers, Secondary School Mathematics, Foreign Countries, Geometric Concepts, Learner Engagement
Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers (AAMT). GPO Box 1729, Adelaide 5001, South Australia. Tel: +61-8-8363-0288; Fax: +61-8-8362-9288; e-mail: office@aamt.edu.au; Web site: http://www.aamt.edu.au
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A