The effect of pre-engineering activities on 4th and 5th grade students’ understanding of rectangular solids made of small cubes

No Thumbnail Available

Date

2008

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of pre-engineering activities on 4thand 5th-grade students understanding of rectangular solids made of small cubes. The study utilized a pretest-posttest experimental design with 121 students. During a two class-hour instruction, experimental groups constructed simple toys such as cars, ships, and trucks out of wooden cubes and triangular prisms. Control groups continued on their regular in-class activities. Results showed that experimental groups, with no gender differences, statistically significantly improved their understanding of three-dimensionality and spatial structuring of three-dimensional arrays of cubes. Similar activities can be used in classrooms to help students mentally construct three-dimensionality and improve their understanding of the spatial structure of rectangular buildings made of small cubes.

Description

Keywords

three-dimensionality, rectangular buildings, spatial structuring, volume

Citation

Collections