Movements: the first step to learn geometry

Today, we are going to talk about learning geometry through movements. As we have said previously, students learn better through their own experience and using manipulative materials rather than listening to the teacher. 

However, there are some teachers who claim that the movement is what allows geometry to be learnt. They say that the first activities that bring us the spatial knowledge are those which implies movement: to walk, to touch things, to go up and down stairs or the typical game in which children follow different circuits drawn on the floor. That's why children have to realise that geometry is in their movements. 

The teacher Malena Martín establishes in her webpage Aprendiendo matemáticas, the golden rule for didactics of geometry. This rule has three different steps: 

1. Begin with the movement.  

2. Express verbally the discoveries.

3. Express in a plastic way what you have experienced.

Taking everything into account, we can see how movements and experiences have an impact on the following actions to acquire knowledge. Therefore, if we want that children make figures with spaghettis and gummies (according to the activity that I explained in a previous post), we cannot start with that. 

The first step should be that children experiment with their own bodies. In this case, they will make different types of lines and figures in order to internalise the concepts. After that, we can verbalise the shapes and figures we have made. It will help them to know the technical name of each figure. Finally, we will give them manipulative materials to work freely. In this way, the teaching and learning process will be more meaningful and enjoyable.