Young children's aesthetic development in the context of mathematical explanation

• Mathematicians routinely report that beauty is both a reward and a motivation for the work they do. However, how and to what extent children can appreciate mathematical beauty is an open question. This exploratory study looks at young children (ages 6-12, with a focus on the younger years) as they evaluate different explanations of claims about even numbers and triangular numbers. While our results are fairly speculative, we provide case studies which illustrate possible kinds of aesthetic reactions, and some of the factors which might impact on those reactions.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap -- Lärande (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences -- Learning (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Aesthetics

explanation

even numbers

triangular numbers

affect

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)