"FOLLOW THE EXAMPLES" OF STUDENTS: LEARNING IN EXPLORATORY-INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITIES IN THE 4TH GRADE OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the learning of a teacher and her students in classes with exploratory-investigative geometrical content, developed in the 4^th year of primary education. The teacher participated of a continuous training course. The first author of this article, who was the course trainer, took part in some of those classes. Data were composed by videotapes and its transcriptions, teacher’s oral narratives and notes, researcher appointments, and students’ appointments and pictures. The study was based on the literature about explorative-investigative mathematics researches in classes of primary education, and about teacher learning, a subject of permanent formation. The data analysis was focused on three different developed activities, and the results showed the students’ learning of geometrical contents with concepts of plane geometric figures, the use of the ruler, and new ways of participation in a context of oral and written discussion and negotiating of concepts. On the other hand, the teacher focused her activities on a better way of guiding those classes, allowing the children participation by asking about and discussing their own or their peer’s productions. Her learning was also related to her autonomy to choose the activities and manage time in classroom. We empathize that classes about plane geometric figures can be based on examples made by the very students, in opposition to learning based on pre-printed illustrations.

Key words: Exploratory-investigative activities; Teacher learning; Children Education — geometry; Mathematics – elementary school.