Primary Mathematics Integrating Theory with Practice

Until recently, algebra was regarded as the domain of the secondary school years in most countries. In addition, it was often regarded in quite narrow ways by non-mathematics teachers, parents and students as being concerned with the manipulation of symbols according to tightly prescribed rules. Recent attention to algebra in the primary school has not regarded it as appropriate that such a narrow view of algebra be taken, leading to the use of terms such as ‘pre-algebra’ or ‘early algebra’ to describe the mathematics involved.

In this chapter, it is recognised that students’ understanding of algebra in the secondary school rests on foundations that are laid in the primary school, as reflected in the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics v. 9.0. These foundations are concerned with key algebraic ideas about patterns and generalisations, rather than with symbolic representations of these, such as x and y. This chapter explores developmental models associated with patterns and algebraic concepts, with a focus on developing algebraic thinking.