Area measurement: structuring with nonsquare units. Issue 2 (2nd April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cullen, Amanda L.; Barrett, Jeffrey E.
• Is Part Of: Mathematical thinking & learning. Volume 22:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 85
• Page End: 115
• Publication Date: 2020-04-02
• Subjects: Area measurement -- elementary school mathematics; geometric measurement -- learning trajectory; spatial structuring; Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; 510.71
• DOI: 10.1080/10986065.2019.1608619
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1098-6065

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In this article, we describe how students structured 2-dimensional space with square and nonsquare units. We employed a cross-sectional design, interviewing 5 students from each of 4 different grade groups: Grades 1, 3, 5, and 7 (ages 7, 9, 11, and 13) in structured, task-based interviews. Our findings about students' ways of measuring area fit a hypothetical route of learning, validating 4 specific levels of thinking about area units across tasks, regardless of unit shape and dimension indicators. Implications for instruction and research are discussed.