Children’s mathematics concept learning of informal length measurement: Conceptual PlayWorld as an innovative approach in the beginning of primary school period

Abstract

Measurement is an essential and valuable mathematics concept closely linked to everyday life and is often one of the first few mathematics concepts children learn in educational contexts. Currently, limited research exists that investigates how implementing imaginary play could create conditions in supporting children’s learning of informal length measurement as they transition to school. To support children’s learning of informal length measurement, this study adapted Li and Disney’s (2021) Conceptual PlayWorld [CPW] in mathematics to conduct an educational experiment investigating how the implementation of CPW creates the conditions to support children’s learning during the transition to school. We argue that in the CPW, the use of imagination and the teacher’s dramatisation of the mathematics conceptual problems allowed opportunities for children to demonstrate and explore informal length measurement using their everyday understanding of concepts. In turn, it supports the teacher in embedding mathematical learning opportunities in the imaginary play context. CPW can be considered an alternative pedagogical approach that incorporates mathematical exploration through imaginary play, creates opportunities to support children to engage with and understand measurement concepts.