A didactic sequence for the teaching of polygons: the use of manipulable materials in the fifth grade of the elementary school

Abstract

This paper resulted from a master's research part on the development of the student's geometric thinking. The study focused on the study of polygons aiming to investigate the possible applications of manipulable materials for teaching Geometry in the 5th grade of elementary school. This is a qualitative approach in which we present the results of one of the moments when the didactic sequence on polygons was applied. The theoretical basis is based on authors such as Lorenzato (1995), who advocates the presence of geometry for teaching mathematics based on the argument that this knowledge must be built since child education, since it helps in solving everyday problems, which are often geometrized. The results point out the possibility that manipulable materials can potentiate the construction of geometric knowledge in students of the 5th grade of elementary school. In addition, it was found that the use of manipulable materials presents itself as a possibility to give greater meaning to the construction of geometric concepts, since they allow students to manipulate, compare, cut, search, observe and construct concepts. Evidence that this type of material facilitates observation and analysis by favoring the development of logical and critical reasoning, essential for the construction of different mathematical knowledge.

Keywords

• Ensino de Matemática
• Geometria
• Materiais manipuláveis.