Students' mathematical ability and spatial reasoning in solving geometric problem

Abstract

Students have many difficulties in geometry such as disability to visualize two dimensional to three dimensional objects. That is indicated by lower spatial reasoning. This study aims at describing the students' spatial reasoning in solving geometric problem. This qualitative research involved three elementary students that consist of highest, middle, and lowest student's ability. The results pointed out the highest and middle recognized geometry object and they could explain some information which is known and asked correctly. The highest student also could imagine cube nets into cubes and describing the surface of the cube when it viewed from the right, left, top, bottom, front, and back. The middle student couldn't draw surface of the cube appropriately when it viewed from the right, left, top and bottom. The lowest student couldn't recognize geometric object, nor could mention the information. Finally, we suggest teachers to teach middle and low students to deepen the introduction of geometric objects.