ED2652 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Hans Magnus Enzensberger, The Doorbell Rang, Pat Hutchins
Mathematics 2: Number and Algebra
Tutorial Four – Week Four
Literature and Games in Mathematics Education
• Readings
o Define the term numeracy and what it means to be a numerate person
▪ The ability to effectively use mathematics to meet the general demands of life at home, work, and
school
• Time, payments, general problem solving → Survival
▪ Problem solving → applying what you have learned
▪ Numeracy involves mathematical ideas that can be used to make sense of the world
• Having the skills and strategies to apply mathematics to situations
• Numeracy is very contextual
o A year 5 can be perceived as innumerate in a year 7 class, but very numerate in
a year one class
o What numeracy demands are presented in these pictures
▪ Nutrition
• Per 100g
o What does this mean?
o Younger children do not know:
▪ what ‘per’ means
▪ What ‘g’ is → we know It is grams
▪ and clothing
• Teaching Primary Mathematics – Booker, Bond, Sparrow, and Swan (2010)
• Mathematics and Literature
o Whiten and Wilde (1995)
o Literature motivates students to learn, provides a meaningful context for math, celebrates math as a
language, demonstrates that math develops out of human experience, fosters the development of number
sense, and integrates math into other curriculum areas.
o Murphy (1999) suggested that picture books not only engage children and help them make mathematical
connections but also provide visualisations of mathematical concepts in the illustrations.
o In a study linking children’s literature with mathematics, Clarke (2002) reviewed teachers’ summary
comments and concluded that as a result children were better at explaining their reasoning and strategies,
enjoyed mathematics more, showed greater overall persistence on difficult tasks, were thinking more about
what they had learned, and experienced a level of success.
o When selections are also chosen to develop mathematical ideas, mathematics is humanised, its relationship
to the arts is emphasised, and the picture books and extension activities stimulate positive reactions,
interest, enjoyment, and confidence in children (Lawrence, Hope, Small, & Martin, 1996 as cited in
Columba et al., 2005).
• Examples of Mathematics in Literature
o The Doorbell Rang – Pat Hutchins (Resources in Week 4 Tutorial)
▪ Sharing
• Lesson: Plastic cookies on a plate
o Concept of dividing equally
• As another person comes, each person will get less cookies
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
