Abstract:

In this paper, which deals with natural numbers and didactic materials in the first year of Primary Education (children aged 6-7 years old), we present and analyse a classroom experience where the use of some simple educational material, toothpicks, is included. The aim is to improve the difficulties found in the implementation of the decimal number system, particularly, with the introduction of units, tens, and the addition of natural numbers. We will put forward the theoretical frame that supports the use of materials to reach the enhancement which is pursued in the development of the students' abilities. We will finish by comparing the learning results before and after the application of this methodological strategy and we will analyse the advantages that it entails in the process of teaching and learning. Moreover, we intend to ponder in favour of the idea that boys and girls, in their concrete operational stage, need to make use of structured materials in order to build up mathematical concepts properly.

Keywords:

Didactic materials, educational resources, mathematics, mathematical concepts, construction of knowledge.