Math city map: provide and share outdoor modelling tasks. an experience with children

Abstract

The MathCityMap-project (MCM-Project), carried out by the IDMI Goethe-University Frankfurt (Germany), aims to provide and share outdoor modelling tasks. A web portal and a mobile app for math-trail program were created and several math-trail tasks were designed around cities allover the world and uploaded into a system by the teachers. Then students walk the trail and its tasks by the help of mobile app or a .pdf file (generated by the web portal) to find and solve mathematical modelling tasks around the city. In this paper we present the results of an experimental teaching activity through MCM-Project for primary school students. Thanks to MCM-Project, we were able to design our math-trail in Catania (Italy) and involve some 10-11 aged students in its walking. Data were gathered by means of participatory observation, video-recording, interviews, and questionnaires. We will show how much this kind of activity can be effective to support primary school students in the process of modelling mathematics outside the classroom.