Introduction
Children of the first two grades, as well as pre-school children, should be provided with interactive experience in the sphere of mathematics so as to start the process of understanding it as early as possible and make it easier. In this interactive process of playing, teachers must emphasize mathematical concepts for children so that they do not think that they are only playing.
The Exhibition
The exhibition in the National Museum of Mathematics can serve as an excellent mathematical experience for children. At the exhibition, there are various interactive entertainments which comprise different mathematical concepts. According to the exhibition’s standards, it is aimed at preschoolers and schoolchildren of the first two grades. Overall, tangrams provide a very exciting experience for children at the exhibition. Basically, tangrams as well as most of the other exhibits are more appropriate for children in a kindergarten and for the first graders. However, there are certain concepts related to solving tangrams that can be incomprehensible for children of such a young age. For example, tangram paradoxes, when two shapes consist of the identical parts, but one of them seems bigger than the other, can be difficult to explain to children.
In general, tangrams are a game that improves mathematical performance of children by means of developing their spatial skills. They also help children develop problem solving skills and teach them basic geometric terms. Traditionally, tangrams consist of seven pieces that are used to create different objects looking at their silhouettes. Thus, tangrams can also teach children to measure space without using particular geometrical formulas, which, in turn, help develop in them basic geometrical skills and those of measuring planar shapes by means of geometrical imagination.
Additionally, the concept of a perimeter and the principles of number operations are explained to children when they are solving tangrams. Thus, children learn that the perimeter is a path surrounding a planar shape. Regarding the number of operations, children learn to count by imagining how many pieces are needed to make a particular part of an object.
Engaging Children in the Exhibition
In my opinion, every part of this exhibition consists of two aspects, namely, the educational and entertaining. Thus, the latter prevents children from losing their interest in the exhibition. Certainly, children are easily distracted, and it is possible that they lose their interest in solving tangrams simply because they do not like it. Therefore, in order to engage all children in this activity, it is crucial to focus their attention on it and help them if they get frustrated due to unsuccessful attempts to solve this puzzle. Fortunately, this exhibition went well, and all children were interested in each part of it.
With reference to Bloom’s Taxonomy for Math, the following questions would be appropriate for engaging children in the exhibition:
- What is the difference between the seven tangram pieces?
- The silhouettes of what objects do you see on the picture?
- What are the properties of the geometric figures of tangram pieces?
- How many different combinations of tangrams can be used to make this particular figure?
- Why are the tangram pieces of different colors?
In order to facilitate children learning before the exhibition, it is important to show them some shapes and tell them that they are all made of seven geometric figures. During the exhibition, it is necessary to explain to children various geometric phenomena related to tangrams and assist them in solving these puzzles if they have some problems. After the exhibition, it is crucial to concentrate on the importance of tangrams in learning mathematics and on the main concepts that they demonstrate.