A importância das tarefas de investigação, da resolução de problemas e dos materiais manipuláveis no ensino e aprendizagem de perímetro, área e volume no 5.º ano de escolaridade

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate whether certain research tasks and problems solving, using manipulation of didactic materials, would improve learning of some concepts on Geometry and Measure (perimeter, area, and volume) of 5th grade students. The study followed a quasi-experimental design. Data collection was focused on application of a questionnaire, using national exam questions, to all students of the 5th grade in two basic teaching schools at Porto district, at the beginning and the end of the 2009–2010 school year. The sample was divided into two groups: Working Group (GT) and Control Group (GC). The recommended school manual guided the lessons in the GC and the students of GT were submitted to the tasks explained above. We could verify that, in the 1st test, the results of the students of the GT and GC were similar and, in the 2nd test, the GT’s results were significantly higher. We conclude that the mentioned pedagogic intervention improved pedagogical learning of perimeter, area and volume concepts.