This paper describes a modeling task designed to improve students’ understanding of music and related unit structures (e.g., whole note, half note). Fourteen upper elementary students were asked to build models of melodies using Cuisenaire rods and make arguments about how their models represented what they heard. Our analysis of students’ models suggested four categories of models. Students exhibited one- or two-dimensional reasoning with either (or both) height and length correspondence that varied in terms of duration and/or pitch features.
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Supporting Elementary Students to Develop Mathematical Models within Design-Based Integrated Science and Mathematics Projects.
This study explores how upper elementary students develop mathematical models within an integrated science and engineering unit. We collected and coded student explanations from two fifth-grade classrooms. Results indicate that students used mathematical reasoning to create mathematical models of science phenomena. However, some students struggled and instead created descriptive models. These findings highlight the role of mathematical concepts and reasoning associated with science processes in supporting mathematical modeling in upper elementary science instruction.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1742195
- PAR ID:
- 10184557
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- In M. Gresalfi & I.S. Horn (Eds.). The Interdisciplinarity of the Learning Sciences, 14th International Conference of the Learning Sciences (ICLS) 2020.
- Volume:
- 2
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 847-848
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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