Primary Mathematics Integrating Theory with Practice

Educationally, we are in an exciting time in terms of geometrical investigations in the classroom. While the manipulation of concrete materials to enable student construction of two-dimensional figures and three-dimensional objects has been readily available for many years, there are a growing number of mathematics classrooms that have access to dynamic geometry software and interactive sites that enable real-time creation and exploration of geometric figures and their properties. In fact, in some pockets of society, students’ access to a mobile device is in a similar manner to how classrooms of the 1980s used pen and paper as a resource. While, in jest, mobile devices may be referred to ‘an extension of the brain’, in its regular use as an instant source of information and exploration there is an element of this use that can be exploited for positive gain in the mathematics classroom. This chapter explores the development of geometrical concepts and the manner in which we can facilitate exploratory experiences to assist students in their development.