Mathematics Education and Neurosciences: Relating Spatial Structures to the Development of Spatial Sense and Number Sense

Abstract

The Mathematics Education and Neurosciences (MENS) project is aimed at exploring the development of the mathematical abilities of young (four- to six-year old) children. It is initiated to integrate research from mathematics education with research from educational neuroscience in order to come to a better understanding of how the early skills of young children can best be fostered for supporting the development of mathematical abilities in an educational setting. This paper is specifically focused on the design research that is being conducted from the perspective of mathematics education in which we are investigating the relationship between young children’s insight into spatial structures and the development of spatial and number sense. This should result in a series of classroom activities that may stimulate children’s development of spatial and number skills