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Math PK-2

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Math PK-2 > Strategies > Creating Visual Representations

Creating Visual Representations

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Overview

Students activate more cognitive processes by exploring and representing their understandings in visual form. Visual representations allow learners to exhibit what they know and can do in alternative ways that can support Working Memory during problem solving and retention of information in Long-term Memory.

Use It in the Classroom

Watch elementary students draw pictures to solve a word problem. By creating visuals and thinking aloud, learners demonstrate their mathematical understanding of Operations and Symbolic Number.

  • Learners can explore math topics by creating models to represent their thinking. Students can also draw the relationships represented in Operations to deepen their understanding.

    • Design It into Your Product

    Videos are chosen as examples of strategies in action. These choices are not endorsements of the products or evidence of use of research to develop the feature.

    Watch how Math Word Problems provides multiple visual options for learners to show their work and solve word problems. Through sketching the problem, tapping the ten frames, or displaying the number path, learners can choose the method that works best for them.

  • A digital or 3D drawing tool provides students multiple ways to communicate their learning. This supports students' Mathematical Flexibility by allowing them to creatively explore their thinking and bring their ideas to life.
    • View References

    Resources

    Below are additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
    Examples

    Art Class Curator

    13 projects that integrate art and math

    Examples

    Education Closet

    Free arts integration lesson plans for a variety of subject areas

    Examples

    TeacherVision Draw a Picture

    Guide on drawing pictures as a problem-solving strategy

    Examples

    Video on Drawing a Picture

    Video of sample math problems and corresponding pictures

    Professional Development

    Attention

    A free microcredential to support students' attention

    Research

    Multimedia Learning

    Subtopic that includes research on the use of multimedia and visuals in instruction on Digital Promise's Research Map

    Research

    Using Math Visuals in the Classroom

    Examples and research about visual representations

    Factors Supported by this Strategy

    Student Background
    Adverse Experiences
    Physical Fitness
    Safety
    Sleep
    Socioeconomic Status
    Social and Emotional Learning
    Emotion
    Cognition
    Attention
    Inhibition
    Long-term Memory
    Sensory Integration
    Short-term Memory
    Speed of Processing
    Working Memory
    Numeracy and Mathematics
    Arithmetic Fact Retrieval
    Cardinality
    Counting
    Estimation
    Language Skills
    Mathematical Flexibility
    Operations
    Place Value
    Symbolic Number

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    Free Choice

    Free choice supports learner interests and promotes the development of more complex social interactions.

    Imagining

    Imagining allows students to step back from a problem or task and think about it from multiple angles.

    Math Games: Numerical & Spatial

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