An Investigation of Patterns and Functions in Elementary School Mathematics Textbooks

초등 수학 교과서의 규칙성과 함수 영역의 활동 고찰

The purpose of this study was to examine contents and activities of patterns and functions in the 7th national curriculum for elementary school mathematics and textbooks developed based on it. Through examination, several conclusions were drawn as follow. First, pattern need to be introduced as a way of doing mathematics not as a subject of mathematics. Finding patterns is one of the most important mean to do mathematics. Second, activities for patterns and functions must be organized coherently. Coherent means that mathematical ideas are linked to and build on one another so that students' understanding and knowledge deepens and their ability to apply mathematics expands. Third, independent lessons for patterns and functions are needed. In these lessons, various activities need finding patterns can be introduced to help students understand mathematics. Fourth, the linkage between patterns and functions should be strengthened.